Ultimate Guide to Florida Citrus Varieties: Oranges, Grapefruit & Tangerines
These varieties reflect Florida’s rich citrus heritage; Supporting small, family-owned groves helps preserve this diversity
Florida is the largest orange-producing state in the United States (and the third largest in the world). About 95% of Florida’s oranges go into juice. Oranges account for about 87% of the state’s citrus crop (with grapefruit ~10% and tangerines/tangelos ~3%). Major orange types include Navel and Valencia, along with a few specialty cultivars. Navel oranges (winter harvest) are large, round and generally seedless. Valencia oranges (late winter–spring) have thin peels and rich orange juice. Temple oranges are hybrids (tangors) with deep-orange color, “rich flavor and fragrance,” and few seeds.
Florida’s grapefruit crop is led by Ruby Red and Marsh varieties. Ruby Red grapefruit has pink-red flesh and a sweet, tangy flavor. The Marsh (white) grapefruit has a thin yellow rind and almost no seeds, delivering plenty of tart, juicy pulp. Both types are very juicy (half a grapefruit provides more fiber than a cup of popcorn and packed with vitamin C.
Key Florida Citrus Types:
Navel Orange: Large, seedless oranges with thick pebbled skin. Eaten fresh. Season: winter
Valencia Orange: Juicy oranges with thin, smooth skin. King of juice oranges. Season: late winter–spring
Temple Orange: Deep-orange hybrid (tangor) with rich flavor. Few seeds. Season: winter
Ruby Red Grapefruit: Sweet pink-red grapefruit. Season: winter
Marsh Grapefruit: Yellow grapefruit, very juicy and nearly seedless. Season: winter
Honeybell (Minneola) Tangelo: Tangerine-grapefruit hybrid, bell-shaped, very juicy. Season: January–February
Tangerines (Honey, Dancy, Sunburst): Small mandarins, very sweet, loose-peel. Season: winter–early spring
Other Citrus: Meyer lemons (cold-tender sweet lemons), Key limes (small sour limes), and kumquats (tiny orange fruits eaten whole).
Ultimate Guide to Florida Citrus Varieties: Oranges, Grapefruit & Tangerines
Florida’s mandarins and tangelos add to the diversity. Dancy and Fallglo tangerines are small, very sweet, and easy to peel. The Honey tangerine (Murcott) has dark orange-red flesh and a honey-sweet taste. Popular tangelos include Minneola (Honeybell) and Orlando – hybrids of tangerine and grapefruit that are bell-shaped, deeply orange, and extremely juicy.
These varieties reflect Florida’s rich citrus heritage. Supporting small, family-owned groves helps preserve this diversity. In fact, the Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation – a nonprofit dedicated to saving Florida’s citrus legacy – provides grants and assistance to keep these groves alive.
The time to act is now. Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation: Donate today to help save the future of the iconic Florida orange.