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Beets, leeks, parsnips, and potatoes. That's the last update I got about in-season vegetables available at the farmers' market near me in chilly New York. If the monotony of alliums and root vegetables is getting you down, just remember that when it's dead cold in the Northeast, the Midwest, and the Northwest, it's citrus season in balmy Florida, Southern California, and the South.
Sure, your corner grocery store probably has citrus. A pyramid of quotidian lemons and limes, maybe one or two kinds of oranges. But for the true citrus fanatics—the tangelo aficionados, the Sumo enthusiasts—the regular grocery store isn't going to cut it. You've got to go directly to the source online.
Here are the sites to visit for all of your peak-season citrus needs, including the big retailers like Harry and David, but also some of our favorite family-owned farms that will deliver right to your door.
Etsy
Yes, you read that right: Etsy, the place you've been going to for beeswax candles and one-of-a-kind pottery bowls, is also in the fruit-selling business. A handful of small farmers sell their produce on the site—and while most of the inventory leans toward tropical mangosteens, ice cream beans, and passion fruit, you can also find some prime-season citrus right now.
These organic Meyer lemons have a number of solid reviews: One buyer says, “These lemons are so amazing I ordered them twice in less than two weeks,” and another claims they "are by far the nicest lemons I have ordered." Buy a 10 pound box for $36 with free shipping through the harvest season. One other thing to note: Unlike most fruit at your grocery store, which has been waxed for protection during travel, these are unwaxed—which makes them ideal for preserving.
Friend's Ranch
I went to boarding school in sunny Ojai, California—and when I headed east after graduation, one of the things I missed most were the orange groves. Specifically, I missed the groves of sweet-smelling Ojai Pixies. The teeny and seedless citrus is only grown in this little town, and the season is just a few short weeks each spring. Friend's Ranch, a fifth-generation family farm, ships them out as quickly as they can when the season hits in March. But don't just hit Friend's up during Pixie season: Their February citrus box boasts ten pounds of blood oranges, tangerines, and avocados (another Ojai speciality). I'll be going for their ‘Plain Jane’ box, a whopping nine-pound box of citrus, which was made specifically for the graduates of Ojai's boarding schools so that "they wouldn't get scurvy when they moved away to go to college," says rancher Emily Ayala of Friend’s.
Frog Hollow
One downside of most lovely-looking fruit boxes is that the fruit that makes the cut is only a tiny percentage of what grows every season. Anything too small or too large, oddly shaped, or otherwise blemished often gets wasted. Frog Hollow estimates the amount of fruit that's beautiful enough to be shipped directly to customers is only 2%. So, they've committed to selling the rest of their fruit at farmers' markets, or donating it to a local food bank. In case you're in the area, the so-called “imperfect” fruit that ends up at the farmers' market is still outstandingly good: Our photographer Joseph De Leo (who took the stunning citrus shot above) says he's been obsessed with Frog Hollow since he picked up a bag of apricots from them at the SF farmers' market a few years back.
For those of us who can't choose just one citrus varietal, the fruit supplier for Chez Panisse brings us all sorts of varieties of organic oranges and lemons. Some of their citrus offerings include Cara Cara Navel oranges, Meyer lemons, and Minneola tangelos. In addition to being certified organic and maintaining sustainable farming practices, Frog Hollow has invested in carbon neutral shipping to further limit their impact on the environment.
Harry & David
If what you're after is great fruit with the least amount of effort, look to Harry & David. The company ships around half a dozen kinds of citrus each season, from classic Navel oranges to more surprising varieties like Sumo mandarins. One thing to note: while some oranges are domestic, the company ships fruit from around the world. If sustainability is your priority, be sure to check the origin country before checkout.
Harry & David ships easy-to-peel Honeybell oranges through mid-February (perfect timing for the Valentine who prefers tart citrus to cloying truffles). These plump oranges, also called Minneola tangelos, are actually a cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit. They're hefty, juicy, and perfectly sweet-tart.
Pearson Ranch
Pearson Ranch in Porterville, California grows 28 varieties of citrus. While you can head here for a dose of primo classic fruits like shapely lemons or lovely Navel oranges, what Pearson Ranch is really good for are those specialty breeds. Here's where you'll find Buddha's Hand, yuzu, finger limes, pink variegated lemons, Calamondins, Etrog citron, fragrant makrut limes, and more.
There are plenty of rare citrus options available on Pearson's site for the experimental cook—but don't overlook the seedless, sweet, and easy-peeling mandarins. At 55 dollars for a ten-pound box they would make a great gift for any friend who considers themself to be a citrus enthusiast, or just be a special wintertime indulgence for yourself.
Wondering how to store and eat all your beautiful new citrus? Check out our guide to storage here, and some of our favorite sweet and savory citrus-season recipes here.
