Florida orange picking is a great and fun experience. After a long winter, there’s nothing like heading down to Florida for some orange picking. It’s a great way to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.
Plus, you can’t beat the views of the orange groves. And of course, it’s always fun to bring home a few boxes of fresh oranges.
There are many different orange-picking spots to choose from in Florida – some may be closer or farther away than others depending on your preference.
This post will help you find the best sites to go orange picking in Florida based on your location!
1. How to Pick Oranges in Florida
- Make sure that you get orange-picking gloves and a bucket to carry the oranges.
- Bring your orange picking bag with shoulder straps, so it is easier to hold on your shoulders while carrying many oranges.
- Many orange farms in Florida are located near lakes, rivers, or streams because they need this for irrigation. You can see these hotspots marked as blue dots on Google Maps when looking around at where to pick oranges in Florida! If there are any nearby water sources, be careful not to damage the trees by staying away from them when harvesting fruit.
- It’s also important to note that some orange groves only allow people over 18 years old, and others may have height requirements depending on what type of orange picking they offer.
- Make sure to check the orange picking schedule and hours of operation before going orange picking in Florida, so you don’t miss out on anything!
2. Where Can I Pick Oranges in Orlando, Florida?
There are many places where people go orange picking depending on what type of experience you want.
Whether you’re looking for a simple site with orchards that provide everything, need transportation from your hotel, or desire something more adventurous like kayaking while harvesting fruit, there’s an option for almost everyone when it comes to orange groves near Orlando.
Visitors can pick their own oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits at this picturesque grove. There’s even an old-fashioned country store for those who want to take home some fresh fruit straight from the tree or buy just one thing on your way out!
The Bekemeyers are fifth-generation farmers, who have been cultivating citrus and vegetables for years. They turned 20 acres of pine trees into a farm with the help of their mule and plow – now it’s available to you!
3. Where can I Pick Oranges in Florida?
Many orange groves and picking farms are located throughout Central Florida, nearby Orlando, are Diamond Crystal Orange Groves is about 20 minutes from Walt Disney World Resort, so if you’re looking to go orange picking.
At the same time, at the happiest place on earth, then this stops right by it!
They offer many different activities such as hayrides, horseback riding tours, bike rentals for biking around an orange orchard, and more fun things kids will enjoy doing when they come here to harvest fruit.
If you want something closer to your hotel, check out Blue Grove Citrus, which has over 100 acres of orange trees where people gather fresh citrus every day except Mondays.
It’s located about 12 miles from popular hotels such as the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress and is an excellent option for orange picking while in Orlando!
4. Do people in Florida go Orange Picking?
Every year, many tourists come to Central Florida to make their fresh-squeezed orange juice using oranges picked right off of trees at an orange orchard.
Along with drinking freshly squeezed orange juice, many homes use citrus harvested from these places for cooking too!
Orange picking season starts in early November and typically lasts until March, depending on how much fruit each tree has left when winter comes around.
Some seasons are shorter than others because Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate during this period means it may be better to
5. The Best Orange Groves in Florida
Florida Historic Fruit Park is a great place to bring your kids because they have activities like making orange marmalade. This park has over 200 acres that you can explore and fruit trees throughout the property.
You will see how to harvest citrus back in the day while learning about historic farming practices. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly, so stop by if you want an educational experience with something fun mixed in.
Orlando Wetlands Park – Like the Florida Historic Fruit Park, this place is home to hundreds of acres filled with orange trees.
You can wander throughout as you hunt for those oranges and enjoy nature at its finest. One thing different about this park, though, is that you will find alligators here!
Many people like to come out during orange picking season because there are so many other animals and birds to see while they search through the trees looking for a few oranges.
Remember not to feed any wildlife or get too close if they approach you (this could be dangerous). And always remember your sunscreen!
Lake Apopka North Shore Restoration Area – This orange grove is home to over 800 acres of orange trees. You can find them all along with the North Shore Restoration Area, which will allow you to go on a nice hike while enjoying nature and picking oranges as well!
This park also has picnic areas, so if you get hungry after your orange-picking adventure, there are plenty of places for you to stop and have lunch or take some food back with you.
If none of these appeal to you, then why check out our list of great things that Orlando offers?
There might be something else perfect for someone like yourself who loves Florida’s orange groves but may prefer different activities during their vacation time here. Enjoy those oranges, Floridians!
6. What to do with the Picked Oranges
Once you have picked your orange, what do you do with it?
Most pickers like to use their oranges straight away so that they can enjoy them.
But if this is not possible, there are several things that could be done with the orange before using it, such as:
- Orange juice
- Orange jam
- Orange jelly
If these recipes sound interesting, then keep reading!
Oranges contain vitamin C and other nutrients, so when planning on eating an orange on its own or in any recipe, I would recommend leaving the skin intact because all parts of the fruit are beneficial.
If, however, someone does want to remove the skin for whatever reason, then make sure they thoroughly wash and clean the orange first.
The above are some fabulous orange-picking spots in Florida, but if you want to do something a bit different this year, why not try out an orange-picking tour?
There is no better way of spending time with friends and family than by heading outdoors together for a day of fun!
Other citrus fruit picking locations in Florida, such as grapefruit and tangerines, can be found at the Duda Family Farms in Palm Beach County.
The orange groves are open year-round and include a buffet restaurant with fresh produce sourced from the farm.
7. Citrus fruit recipes that use these ingredients
- Grapefruit Recipes: Grapefruit Avocado Salad Recipe
- Lemon Recipes: Lemon Zucchini Loaf With A Streusel Topping
- Orange recipes: Orange Blueberry Bundt Cake for Easter or any time of year!
There are many orange-picking places in Florida, but they don’t have to be weekend trips and memories made with the whole family.
Have a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice every day by creating your orange tree on your kitchen counter with this fun DIY idea that’s as easy as ABC!
There is no need to wait for oranges to grow either; buy organic citrus plants from nurseries.
Anyone who lives in Florida knows that here we can enjoy the sunshine all year round, but orange picking is only available during certain seasons of the year, which vary depending on where you live.
For example, orange picking season usually starts as early as January or February for areas like Homestead and ends around June to July for Central Florida.
In Conclusion…
All in all, picking oranges is a fun activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you’re ever in Florida during the orange season, be sure to go out and pick some for yourself!
Who knows, you might even enjoy it so much that you’ll want to come back next year!
So if you’re looking for something fun to do this spring, be sure to head on down to Florida for some orange picking. You won’t regret it!
