Many times we have journeyed along highway US27 just north of the US192 and noticed the Showcase of Citrus. On first impressions it looks nothing more than a roadside stall selling a variety of citrus fruits to passing motorists. But, on closer inspection it becomes apparent there is a lot more to the Showcase of Citrus than first meets the eye.
The Showcase of Citrus boasts over fifty varieties of fruit including oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, lemons and limes, and beyond the fruit stand is a 2500-acre reserve that includes citrus groves, dense woodland, swamp and also a cattle ranch.
Visitors are invited to purchase pre-packed fruit by the roadside or order an assortment of gift boxes that can be shipped anywhere in the world. They also sell a huge variety fruit trees for gardens or allotments that are accompanied by planting and after care notes.
As an alternative to just buying over the counter, visitors can enjoy a self-guided walking tour amongst 45 acres of pristine citrus grove and gather up their own fruit under the company’s U-Pick scheme. There is a orchard map conveniently located within the grove, and split into sections, which not only tells you what fruits are in season, but also where, among the 7000 trees, to find them.
Also parked out front is a huge swamp buggy that can only be described as a modified open-air school bus with huge monster truck tyres. This four-wheel drive vehicle, with its striped livery, transports visitors on an off road eco-adventure through all aspects of the Florida terrain. It makes its way through the citrus grove, woodland and cattle pasture into a reptile-ridden swamp. At a price of US$20 for adults andUS$10 for children this is a fun ride where there’s a good chance you’ll meet up with plenty of varied wildlife, not least alligators and a host of migratory birds that enjoy the warmth of Florida during the winter months. The ride lasts for about an hour with plenty of stops and excellent narration from the driver.
As you can imagine the Eco- Adventure ride is extremely popular and should be booked in advance to avoid disappointment.
The Showcase of Citrus is closed during the summer months so it is always best to check times and dates first. If you do intend to call, don’t forget to visit their website where you can download a voucher for five pounds in weight of free fruit.
The Showcase of Citrus boasts over fifty varieties of fruit including oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, lemons and limes, and beyond the fruit stand is a 2500-acre reserve that includes citrus groves, dense woodland, swamp and also a cattle ranch.
Visitors are invited to purchase pre-packed fruit by the roadside or order an assortment of gift boxes that can be shipped anywhere in the world. They also sell a huge variety fruit trees for gardens or allotments that are accompanied by planting and after care notes.
As an alternative to just buying over the counter, visitors can enjoy a self-guided walking tour amongst 45 acres of pristine citrus grove and gather up their own fruit under the company’s U-Pick scheme. There is a orchard map conveniently located within the grove, and split into sections, which not only tells you what fruits are in season, but also where, among the 7000 trees, to find them.
Also parked out front is a huge swamp buggy that can only be described as a modified open-air school bus with huge monster truck tyres. This four-wheel drive vehicle, with its striped livery, transports visitors on an off road eco-adventure through all aspects of the Florida terrain. It makes its way through the citrus grove, woodland and cattle pasture into a reptile-ridden swamp. At a price of US$20 for adults andUS$10 for children this is a fun ride where there’s a good chance you’ll meet up with plenty of varied wildlife, not least alligators and a host of migratory birds that enjoy the warmth of Florida during the winter months. The ride lasts for about an hour with plenty of stops and excellent narration from the driver.
As you can imagine the Eco- Adventure ride is extremely popular and should be booked in advance to avoid disappointment.
The Showcase of Citrus is closed during the summer months so it is always best to check times and dates first. If you do intend to call, don’t forget to visit their website where you can download a voucher for five pounds in weight of free fruit.