 It's November and the orange blossom smells of spring and summer are beginning to bring forth the fruits we anticipate all year long in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
Citrus season is here and oranges and grapefruits of all varieties are beginning to pop up at roadside stands and local grocery stores. Though it is early in the season it is looking to be a very promising one for the Texas Citrus industry. The upper valley has received plenty of rainfall and there seems to be less of an insect problem this year. According to a local orchard manager the overall quality of the fruit and their size put the crop at the top of the citrus ladder.
In essence, the Texas Citrus season is off to a sweet start with favorable summer and early fall temperatures as well as consistent late summer rainfalls and good grove maintenance providing growers and shippers with a bright outlook for a successful season. Quality and sizing is up from last year's crop which means more variety for retailers and consumers. Early brix tests show high levels for both oranges and grapefruit which is a great indication of quality so early in the season. Fruit has also shaped up nicely with minimal sheep nosing and minimal pest damage. Most Texas shippers started shipping their first loads of oranges about two weeks ago, while grapefruit shipments began in the last week.
The Texas' citrus industry also stands to profit a little more than usual because of the horrific hurricane seasons that have hit Florida in the last two years. With the latest hurricane Wilma taking a big hit on the Florida citrus industry just as their season was about to open. Florida normally produces over 240 million boxes per year and they were expecting 190 million this year before hurricane Wilma. Early estimates show Wilma destroyed 15% of the Florida orange crop and 40% of the grapefruit crop. But, none is quite sure yet of the final numbers and our hearts go out to them.
 Because of the decline in availability of produce nation wide, we can expect an increase in prices, but then Texas citrus has always been worth whatever price you have to pay to get it!Just ask any native Texan whose lived elsewhere and had to live through a holiday with no ruby red grapefruit, or ask any winter Texan who comes here year after year to their favorite orchard and they'll tell you every sweet delectable bite or drop of orange juice is worth the price and the trip to get it. A word of advice, because of the nationwide shortage of citrus this season if you are planning to send boxes for Christmas order early.
The season begins as early as late October and if we're really lucky it will last as long as mid-April. Millions of cartons of Texas fruit will be shipped to market this year, the sweetest fruit you'll ever taste. Texas ranks just behind California and Florida as the largest supplier of oranges, and the Texas Ruby Red grapefruit is known far and wide for its tender meat and sugary flavor. Trust me if you have never been a grapefruit fan you will change your mind after picking a ruby red right off the tree and eating it.
Check out some of these Rio Grande Valley Growers for orchard tours and picking days and times.
Coastal Fruit Company
P. O. Box 1298
Mercedes, Tx. 78570
956/565-2511
Fax: 956/565-1587
Contact:
Jose I Sanchez
Marvin Schwarz
E-Mail: coastalfruitco@sbcglobal.net
Heald's Valley Farms, Ltd.
6715 West Monte Cristo Road
Edinburg, Tx. 78539
956/380-6211 (LD)
Fax: 956/380-1063
E-mail:
trentbishop@rgv.rr.com
flowersj@yahoo.com
johnh@missionshippers.com
Heald's Valley Farms, Ltd.
Mission Shippers, Ltd.
721 Walsh Avenue
Mission, Tx. 78573-0459
956/380-6211
Fax: 956/581-1130
Sales:
Trent Bishop
T. J. Flowers
John Hausman
E-mail:
trentbishop@rgv.rr.com
flowersj@yahoo.com
johnh@missionshippers.com
South Tex Organics, L.L.C.,
P.O Box 172
Mission, Tx. 78573
956/585-1040
Fax: 956/581-1040
Sales: Dennis Holbrook
Contact: Dennis Holbrook
E-mail:
dennis@stxorganics.com
Rio Queen Citrus, Inc.
4012 E. Goodwin Road
Mission, Tx. 78574
956/585-4511
Fax: 956/585-0258
E-mail: sales@rioqueencitrus.com
Rio Queen Citrus, Inc.
Interstate Fruit & Veg. Co.
P. O. Box 547
Donna, Tx. 78537
956/464-4488
Fax: 956/464-2295
E-mail: sales@rioqueencitrus.com
Contact: Todd Jones
Thompson Rio Pride
2823 S. Pleasantview Dr.
Weslaco, Tx 78596
1-800-864-7728
956/968-2621
Fax: 956/968-3595
E-mail: info@riopride.com
Web:http://www.riopride.com/
Contact: Donald E. Thompson
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Rio Grande Valley
