Westin and Rubi - early: the fruits are round, the peel slightly thick, intense
orange color and tasty juice. They are consumed as fresh fruit and in the preparation of
juice. Harvest period:
Hamlin Orange - early to mid-season: small fruit, with thin yellow peel. It
has low juice content, little sugars and slight acidity. Its trees are very productive. Harvest
period:
Pêra-Rio orange– mid-season: smaller than other varieties, it has longer
shape, with thin and smooth pell, yellow-reddish color and juicy pulp. They are consumed as fresh
fruit and due to its sweetish taste it is also used in the preparation of juice and jellies.
Harvest period:
Oranges Valencia, Natal and Folha Murcha - late-season: they are oval -
shapped fruits, slightly thick peel, with sweetish juice of strong yellow coloration. They are
consumed as fresh fruit and for preparation of juice. Harvest period:
Depending on the characteristic and conditions of the ground and weather, the citrus varieties
have a development cycle that varies from six to sixteen months between the blooming (in
general in spring) and fruit maturation. The varieties can be grouped as early, mid-season and
late-season, according to the maturation period. The fruits that is harvested during the
maturation period tends to be sweeter and have less acid.
Under ideal weather conditions, the tree starts to produce fruit in its third year of life,
then increasing until the 10
th year, when it is considered adult. It produces fruit until its 20
th year, with annual season duration between two and four months, depending on the
variety.