Description

• Navel is a sweet orange characterized by the presence of a secondary fruit embedded in the blossom end of the orange, which creates a "navel" opening. They are easy to peel and are thus the premier orange for eating out-of-hand.
  
  

Determining Ripeness

• Once oranges are picked from the tree, they do not continue to ripen, so it is important to pick navel oranges at the right time. Orange maturity is determined by color, juice content and sugar content. The amount of sugar in the juice increases as the orange matures. The orange should have a yellow-orange color on at least 25 percent of the peel.
  
  

General Harvest Times

• Navel orange harvest in California generally begins in mid-October and lasts throughout the winter. In Florida, November through January are the prime harvest months for navel oranges.