Florida’s warm, subtropical environment provides the ideal conditions for a prolonged orange harvesting period, making the state a major producer of citrus. The ripening process for oranges is not uniform; it is spread across many months due to the different maturation times of various cultivars. This extended season allows for a nearly continuous supply of fresh fruit, with oranges reaching peak ripeness throughout the cooler months of the year. The commercial orange season begins in late autumn and continues well into the following summer.
Overview of the Florida Citrus Season
The typical fresh orange season in Florida begins in the fall, generally starting in October or November, and runs through the spring and early summer months. This lengthy harvest window can last until June for certain late-season varieties.
The ability to harvest oranges for such a substantial part of the year is primarily due to the sequential ripening of different orange types. Growers plant a mix of early, mid, and late-season cultivars. This staggered maturity ensures that as one variety finishes its harvest window, another is just beginning to reach optimal ripeness, maintaining a steady flow of fruit for both the fresh market and for processing.
Harvest Timing for Major Orange Varieties
The commercial harvest is divided into three distinct phases based on when the fruit achieves the proper balance of sugar and acid.
Early Season
Early season oranges are the first to be picked, typically starting around November. Varieties like the Navel orange and the Hamlin orange fall into this category, with their harvest running from November into January.
Mid-Season
Mid-season oranges begin to mature as the early varieties are finishing, sustaining the supply through the winter months. This group includes popular types such as the Pineapple and Ambersweet oranges, along with specialty fruit like the Temple orange. These mid-season cultivars are typically harvested between January and March.
Late Season
The season concludes with the late season oranges, most notably the Valencia, which is prized for its high juice content. Valencia oranges begin harvest much later, generally starting in March and extending well into May and June. This final stage provides the last substantial fresh fruit before the summer break.
The Annual Growth Stages of the Orange Tree
The annual cycle of the orange tree begins with the bloom, the flowering phase of the tree. This usually occurs in the springtime, with the main flush of white, fragrant blossoms appearing around mid-March for most citrus trees. These flowers must be pollinated to begin the process of fruit formation.
Following the bloom, only a small fraction of the flowers successfully transition into fruit, a process known as fruit set. The tiny oranges then begin a long, slow period of growth and development called the maturation phase. This lengthy process takes many months, with the fruit hanging on the tree through the summer and fall before it is fully ready for harvest.
The fruit does not ripen further once it is picked, so it must be left on the branch until it reaches full maturity. The timing of the harvest is dictated by the variety’s specific genetic programming, which determines how long the fruit needs to develop its sugars and flavor. Climate, particularly temperature, influences the speed of maturation and the final quality of the fruit.