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 Picking
your own fresh fruit has always been a great outdoor activity. Picking
apples and straw-berries offers us all an opportunity to get out and
enjoy a little fresh air and sunshine. It’s especially fun when children
are included.
Since Florida has an abundance of oranges
and grapefruit, there are plenty of places where you can “Pick-Your-Own”
citrus. And with so many varieties available, something is in-season
through-out most of the year.
One of the largest groves that offer these
activities here in Central Florida is the “Showcase of Citrus Grove &
Ranch”. They are located in Clermont, which is on Route 27, just west of
Orlando.
 The
ranch, which opened in 1961, consists of 2500 acres of ranch land and
citrus groves. Visitors can pick their own oranges and grapefruit, or
purchase pre-packed fruit. There are over 50 varieties of pesticide-free
fruit grown on the ranch, making it the only “U-pick” grove in the state
that offers visitors a chance to sample that much fresh citrus in one
place.
The “picking season” extends throughout most
of the year, with different varieties available at different times. In
January, Spring Navel Oranges and Honey Tangerines are ready to drop off
the trees. Key limes, Kumquats and Red Navels Oranges are also ready to
pick at that time. In April or May, the peaches, plums and nectarines
are ready for the collector’s basket. Some types of citrus, such as
White Marsh Seedless Grapefruit or Ruby Red Grapefruit, are available
all during the growth season, so there is almost always something ready
for picking.
Visitors who come to the ranch are provided
with maps that show the location of each type of fruit, which makes it
easier to find the fruit that is currently ready to be picked.
 As
an added attraction, the Showcase of Citrus has expanded its Outback
Wild
 Adventure
Tour by adding a “Monster Truck Swamp Buggy ” ride. This is a great way
to take a closer look at some of Florida’s natural environment. You
climb aboard a 25-passenger, yellow-and-black “Swamp Buggy” (which is
actually an old converted school bus), with over-sized tires that allow
the vehicle to go almost anywhere on the ranch, and you’re off on a real
adventure.
It’s an open-air vehicle, with all wheel
steering and a specially designed muffler system, that provides a
surprisingly smooth, quiet ride. Along the way, you’ll pass through
marshlands, shallow lakes, prairies, woods, and pastures filled with
livestock. The driver also acts as a guide, providing interesting
commentary about the history of Florida’s citrus industry, as well as
information about some of the flora and fauna that is found on the
ranch.
Large areas of natural environment serve as
excellent “stop-overs” for migrating birds during their long trips. Many
visitors have described their Swamp Buggy experience as something
similar to
going
on a Safari. It’s a lot of fun, and the tour really does take you to
areas that seem light-years away from
paved roads, houses, and other signs of modern life.
In addition, the Showcase of Citrus also
cares for some of the most beautiful Scarlet Macaw Parrots that we have
ever seen. The entire complex offers visitors a refreshing change of
pace, and a wonderful opportunity to get out and enjoy another day in
the Sunshine State.
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