Florida citrus fruit is not only Florida’s best-known and most profitable export, it has also played an integral part in the history and culture of the state.   All citrus trees derive from a single genus, and are inter-breedable, which means that any way you slice it, (no pun intended) there are only a few actual species. This hasn’t stopped creative growers from breeding their own unique varieties of these fruits, however. The most popular Florida citrus fruit, the orange, has become the state’s unofficial symbol, and orange groves and production plants continue to fuel Florida’s economy to this day.  The orange blossom is the state’s official flower, and is associated with prosperity and good fortune. The orange originated in Southeast Asia, and the English name is derived from the Sanskrit word, “naraigah”, or orange tree.  Many people think that the color of this citrus fruit inspired its name, but in actuality, the reverse is true. In other languages this fruit is also called a “Chinese apple.”  Orange trees in Florida today are actually transplants brought over by Spanish explorers in the 1600’s. Once planted, they flourished in the sandy soil of Florida and are now a familiar part of the state’s landscape. Another popular Florida citrus fruit, the Grapefruit, was not actually recognized as an individual type of fruit until the early 1940’s. The name grapefruit comes from the way that the fruit ripens in clusters on the tree, similar to enormous grapes on a vine, but the Grapefruit was not always known by this name, and in fact was initially named for the man credited for first discovering it, Captain Shaddock. Interestingly, Shaddock was not the first person to record a mention of this fruit. The first known recorded mention has actually been attributed to the Rev. Griffith Hughes, in his notes describing the fruits of Barbados.   In addition, these fruits are also sometimes known as Pomelos, a word derived from the French name for the Grapefruit:  Pampelmousse. Although Florida citrus may have been a transplant initially, it is now an integral part of the agriculture, history, economy, and industry of the state. At Hale Groves, we are proud to continue the tradition of providing quality Florida citrus and the convenience of door to door shipping to all of our most valued customers.  From our popular orange and grapefruit baskets to our unique  gift basket assortments of  citrus fruit, gourmet chocolates and other confections, Hale Groves has something to offer each and every Florida citrus connoisseur.