Explore The Wonders Of Florida Tropical Fruits!2 min read

Thanks to Florida’s tropical climate, consumers are able to enjoy a bounty of fresh, home-grown produce in grocery stores and local markets! Of course, the Florida orange is the king of fruits, as it is a well-known, special component of the citrus family. According to Visit Florida, citrus boasts a $9 billion industry, employing nearly 76,000 Floridians. But at this time of the year, we focus our attention on the fruits grown in the tropical regions!

While Florida’s citrus statistics are quite impressive, we can’t forget about the uniqueness of the tropical fruits in Florida, offering nutritional value as well as rich taste. Remember when grandma would always tell you to eat your greens and fruits? Back then, it probably wasn’t as appetizing. Set a good example for your kids and make grandma proud by including tropical fruits in your next meal. According to a report on National Geographic, one medium papaya gives you 224 percent of your daily Vitamin C needs, while a guava can supply more than 600 percent. Satisfyingly sweet and tart, this oval shaped fruit (papaya) is a great source of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and dietary fiber.

Florida producers grow a variety of fresh tropical fruits, which go great with all meals including salads, soups, drinks, main entrees and even desserts. Brooks Tropical, located just south of Miami in the Redlands, is a longtime producer of a variety of tropical fruits and also offers recipes on its website. Brooks Tropical’s Tropical Pudding Bars are a great selection that combines passion fruit with fresh coconut. Fresh From Florida also offers tropical recipes, like this one for Fruit Kabobs with Lime Cream.

As always, don’t forget to peruse Fresh From Florida’s website for other awesome recipes, and remember to look for the Fresh From Florida logo the next time you’re in the grocery store!