Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you usually get your citrus at the grocery store, then you already know that what is lacking is quality. Commercial-grade fruit, what you find at the grocery store or produce wholesaler, is selected for picking when the average of the fruit in the grove meets the minimum standards set by a government agency. Then all of the fruit is picked and packed for sale. You will find some fruit is above average and may taste fairly good, but the majority is definitely marginal, and some will really be disappointing.
Since citrus does not continue ripening (and improving) once it is picked, it has to stay on the tree longer to reach the point where you consistently receive sweet, delicious, juicy fruit that you can definitely look forward to eating. This runs contrary to the business model of supermarket chains, which values shelf-life over quality when it comes to citrus. Supermarket chains sell citrus that is picked based on minimum standards, in most cases picked while green and then artificially colored, so that the product has a longer shelf-life due to the lower levels of sugar and water content (sweetness and juiciness) in the citrus.
Our philosphy is quite the opposite; we believe in letting the citrus bask in Florida's sunshine and fully ripen on the tree, and only then bring this delicious Florida citrus directly to locations near you, cutting out the middleman completely (supermarkets and grocery stores). By getting the fruit picked, packed, and shipped to a sales location near you during the growing season, we can ensure that all our citrus is fully Tree-Ripened and only left the sunshine of its Florida groves not more than a few days to a week prior.
During the growing season, we arrange scheduled visits to various towns throughout Wisconsin & Illinois (and a few locations in Iowa & Minnesota) and sell direct from the truck in the host-location's parking lot, such as Menards or Ace Hardware stores, among many other hosts. Visits generally last 1½ hours and we visit locations approximately once per month, to allow all of our customers the opportunity to try each citrus variety while it is in season.
No pre-ordering is needed, just come right to the truck and buy delicious Florida citrus or Georgia peaches direct from the groves. Everyone is welcome to come to the truck and look at the citrus and get a sample before deciding whether to make a purchase.
Before our citrus season begins, we mail a schedule to everyone who chooses to be on our customer mailing list. To be added, visit the Mailing List page, ask at the truck, or call our toll-free number. (1-888-TREE-RIPE)
As the mild, tropical nights in Florida get cooler and the temperature drops, the fruit releases chlorophyll from its skin and develops a deep yellow-orange color, although some varieties like the Navels do sometimes retain some green coloring when fully ripe. To keep the fruit as natural as possible, we do not add any artificial coloring.
While some of the popular cholesterol lowering drugs - statins - interact with grapefruit, some do not. For peace of mind, ask your doctor if grapefruit interacts with any of your current medications or with a new one being prescribed. If it does and that disappoints you, he or she may be able to recommend a comparable, non-interacting drug alternative that will effectively treat your health condition, AND allow you to enjoy the good taste and nutritional benefits of grapefruit. After all, according to the American Heart Association, Grapefruit can be part of a natural, heart-healthy diet.
If you're interested in purchasing mail-order citrus outside of our coverge area, you can order directly through the packing house where we get our fruit, H&S Citrus. Otherwise, we do offer Home & Gift Shipping to a limited regional area for an additional S&H fee, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois (except zip codes starting with 606xx). See our Shipping page for more info.
We apply for and receive a sales permit from the municipality of EVERY location we visit, and park at locations with the full knowledge and consent of the host-location. Tree-Ripe Fruit has been selling citrus direct from the truck since 1990, and has a loyal customer base of over 40,000 citrus & peach lovers. We are by no means a fly-by-night operation, and rely completely on repeat customers who can't get enough of the sun-ripened fruit we bring to locations throughout Wisconsin and Illinois.
We frequently get this question from new customers, before they're hooked on Florida citrus or Georgia peaches. All our fruit comes pre-packaged by the packing-houses, so we do not sell individual pieces of fruit or change the packaging in any way. Citrus is packed in 2/5 bushel boxes, and is sorted by count; 24, 28, 32, 36, or 40 pieces in a box depending on the size of the orange and 12, 15, 18 or 20 pieces for grapefruit. For example, the smallest size orange would come in a 40 count box, whereas the largest size orange would come in a 24 count box. Peaches are packed in 1/2 bushel boxes, size 2¾" and up and are 25 lbs. minimum (not sold by weight).
While a whole box of fruit can seem daunting to some at first, once you've tried the different varieties of oranges and the Marsh Ruby grapefruit, you'll be wishing we visited more often than once each month! With citrus this good, it's often gone before you know it, especially if you have friends and family partaking. And in the summer with the mouth-watering Georgia peaches, there's so much you can do with a box of peaches; from canning to freezing, baking or just eating out of hand.
If in doubt, just remember that oranges and grapefruit make a wonderful gift, so if you think you can't eat a whole box by yourself, buy a box for yourself and gift some of the fruit to friends and family, and bring a little Florida sunshine into their winter as well as yours!