At 88, fruit grower Neal Dudley still enjoys working in his groves and chatting with

WEIRSDALE — It seems anyone across the nation can buy a real Florida orange these days.

In fact, in New York City, people who visit Times Square Plaza through Saturday will be greeted by several video spots promoting “Fresh from Florida” agricultural products on the CBS “Super Screen.”

Eight million pounds of citrus will crisscross the country

The first cartons of gift fruit for the winter holidays rolled out of a west Orlando distribution center last week, the start of a tidal wave of 8 million pounds of Florida fruit that will flow to homes and offices across the country for the next few months.

Florida's Natural(R) Premium Brand Orange Juice ... From Florida and Only Florida

LAKE WALES, Fla., Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Parents across America are
paying closer attention to what their families eat and drink. So, they may
be surprised to learn that even something as wholesome and American as
not-from- concentrate orange juice is now being imported to your family's
breakfast table.

Fresh from Florida hits Times Square

New York City's "Big Apple" will soon have some culinary company — namely citrus, tropicals, and other fruits and vegetables that are "Fresh from Florida."

Visitors to Times Square Plaza during the bustling holiday shopping season will get a virtual taste of these fresh Florida favorites when they view the CBS "Super Screen" at 42nd Street between Seventh and Eight avenues.

The Orange Diaries

Yes, another crate arrived. It occurred to me last night that it’s possible I’m the target of an elaborate hoax. Perhaps one of those reality prank shows waiting for me to jump around in anger and make a fool of myself. Well, all I can say is, keep waitin’ buddy. It takes more than a crate of non-Florida imported oranges to rattle Ol’ Dave. Frustrate, yes. But rattle, no. Oh, and anyone remember tetherball?

Florida's Natural launching campaign against imported orange juice

Florida was the undisputed leader in oranges and orange juice for more than a century before Brazil claimed the title not that many years ago. But next week a big Florida-grower owned juice cooperative is taking on the multibillion dollar imported-juice industry with a brash TV campaign.

OJ Farm Price Forecast Is Good

But the outlook for the state's grapefruit growers is not as positive. LAKELAND | Florida orange growers can expect another good year for farm prices in the 2007-08 Florida citrus season, although down slightly from last season's record prices.

But grapefruit growers could leave some 2 million boxes on the tree this season because prices offered by the state's juice processors will be less than the cost of harvesting, according to Mark Brown, the chief economist for the Florida Department of Citrus.

US: Citrus harvesting season gaining speed

With Tropical Storm Noel on a track to spare Florida a late season slap, the state's citrus growers, juice processors and fresh-fruit shippers celebrated Monday as the harvesting season gains speed.

"Thank goodness," said Donna Garren , executive vice president of the Florida Gift Shippers Association, based in Orlando. The association's 50 members statewide start shipping seasonal fruit varieties such as navel oranges and grapefruit on Nov. 14, and the gift-fruit holiday shipping peaks in late December.