What’s a HoneyBell?
This is a box of HoneyBell oranges. The ball of Florida goodness is a hybrid of Dancy Tangerines and Duncan Grapefruits. They’re so easy to peel, and It may look like a box of everyday oranges, but don’t let the pretty packaging fool you. This is a box of sunshine.
HoneyBells are juicy, so juicy, that a friend told me when she lived in Florida and her children were young, she made them eat this variety of orange with a bib on to keep her laundry pile in check. Now, Cushman’s Fruit ships each order with 2 bibs. I’m a risk-taker though — it’s no bib for me.
My parents send me at least 1 shipment a season. It all depends on the growing period and the crop. They send them from Cushman’s Fruit Company in West Palm Beach, Florida. HoneyBells have a very, very short harvest period — just a few weeks in January. Once they’re all picked and shipped, that’s it, there are no more for another year!
Seriously? Just a few weeks? This is Florida — the Sunshine state! Can’t the governor arrange for a longer growing period? I’m telling you — you HAVE to have these oranges! I’m so thankful when the box arrives.
- Delicious HoneyBell Sabayon
This is just how much I like these orange balls of Florida sunshine — It took 27 hours for me to get home from Mexico this past weekend. I wasn’t exhausted, but returning home from vacation and an unexpected overnight in a shabby hotel takes a toll. I knew what was ahead of me; unpacking and a pile of laundry, but that didn’t stop me from parking my bags in the bedroom and heading into the kitchen to open the box and dive into a ball of succulent vitamin C. I’d just had a week of sunshine and fresh fruit, but the lure of segments of HoneyBell sweetness was too much for me to resist.
A Glass of Sparkling Orange Juice with Fresh Mint
I tore into the box, pulled out an orange, peeled it and dove right into my first HoneyBell of the season. I knew I should be on the phone calling my parents to let them know I made it home safely after one of the best vacations of my life and to thank them for the box of oranges, but that would have to wait for a few minutes. After I washed my hands and mopped up my chin I gave them a call. It was no surprise to my mom that the oranges came first. Shame on me, but the good news is that their gift did not go unappreciated. Thanks Mom & Dad!!
I wonder if I’ll be able to get this off before work tomorrow 
In 2007 my career with a large, but shrinking high tech Fortune 50 \"left me,\" leaving a void in my life. While lamenting the loss and flying around the world looking for a new career to get married to, I discovered a way to use a familiar outlet during tough times -- writing. My blog-writing morphed into writing about my favorite past time -- Food! I purchase food, sell food, make food, watch food being made, broadcast meal preparation, photograph and blog about food. Like I said; Food! To change this standard text, you have to enter some information about your self in the Dashboard -> Users -> Your Profile box. 
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m going to Florida in 2 weeks. I will get my orange fix then!!
Sumdanc
Be sure to look for HoneyBells. There is no orange like it. Ok, gotta go. Need a HoneyBell STAT!
We have 3 honeybell trees in our yard, how often and how much water should they receive?
Wow. That’s great. I’m sorry, but I don’t know about the care and feeing of this fruit tree. My parents send me the oranges each year from a local farm where they live in Florida. Do your trees bear fruit? I’d see what you can find online or go to your local nursery to see what they recommend.