Mar 12, 2011

Marco Island Farmers Market: Fresh From The GroveBy Jenine C. OuilletteMarcoNews.com

The South Naples Citrus Grove’s vendor booth at Marco Island Farmers Market is the place Islanders and visitors alike flock to on Wednesday for their weekly supply of locally grown citrus picked fresh from groves on Sabal Palm Road. The family-owned and operated 120 acre citrus grove business was started and planted in 1980 over a 3 to 3½ year period and was opened to the public in 1984, said family member Hank Jacobs.

“Our South Naples Citrus Grove business is geared to a direct market. We sell retail from the grove to the local buyer,” stated Jacobs, noting that along with retail sales of bagged citrus fruit at Farmers Market booths and the grove store at 341 Sable Palm Road, a good part of their business comes from gift fruit boxes shipped throughout the United States and Canada. The gift box are available various combinations of citrus including a Fruit of the Month plan available November through April that could solve holiday gift problems down the line.

Jacobs explained local customers have a couple of options if they want to order gift fruit boxes shipped to friends and family: They can ask one of the MIFM booth workers for a brochure and look it over at home to decide, then call, using their credit card for payment to order toll free, 888-547- 6837; or they may simply stop by the grove at 341 Sabal Palm Road from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Check out their Web site: naplescitrus.com.

“We’re a seasonal business. The grove is open from Thanksgiving through the holidays and Easter to the end of April. Right now we’re picking easy-peeling Temple oranges, and a bumper crop of Mineola tangelos, a unique hybrid bred for size and delicious tangerine flavor that has been marketed to the public as a Honeybell, is extending its season into March,” said Jacobs, adding that the Murcott or Honey tangerine will also be plentiful into April, and he expects to start harvesting and selling Valencia oranges in the near future.

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