At Hale Groves, we’ve been in the business of growing, picking, and sending fresh Florida Oranges and other citrus fruits long enough to have discovered some interesting and little known facts about our favorite citrus. We hope that you enjoy these fun facts as much as we enjoyed compiling them, and to learn more about citrus,  we invite you to please visit the About Us and other sections of our website frequently, as they are always being updated to help better serve our valued customers. Citrus fruits are native to Southeast Asia where they have been cultivated for over 4,000 years. Some of the oldest Oriental literature contains references to citrus fruits. Oranges do not ripen after they are picked, but lemons do. For a great natural facial, boil the peels of an orange and grapefruit with 2 cups of non-carbonated mineral water. For a healthy astringent, blend the juice of half of a grapefruit with warm water. Splash it on your freshly scrubbed face to tighten pores and improve elasticity without the harsh effects of traditional, alcohol based astringents. For scaly, rough patches on elbows, dip and rub elbows into  fresh Hale Groves Indian grapefruit halves. This softer cuticles and whiter nails can be achieved naturally be mixing three cups of warm water with the juice from half of a fresh Ruby Red grapefruit. Citrus pith is the major source for commercial pectin, the thickener in most fruits, jams, and jellies; and oranges and other types of citrus fruits from Florida are the source of its primary manufacture.  Additionally, pectin is used to treat intestinal disorders, as a plasma extender, and in other medical use applications. Zest, the outermost skin layer of Florida oranges and other citrus fruits, has a distinct, light fragrance and is rich in vitamins and flavanoids Orange has been reported to be the third most preferred flavor  in the world, preceded only by Vanilla and Chocolate. Florida Orange juice is a nutritionally important source of Vitamin C At Hale Groves, our Florida oranges are hand picked for freshness and sent directly to you or your intended recipients in our special fleet of climate controlled trucks. We hope that you will take advantage of the assortment of fresh fruit gifts available to you, our valued customer, and begin experiencing the health benefits unique to Florida oranges, grapefruits, and other citrus.