Have you ever visited a working orange grove? I hadn’t—and since Florida is famous for its oranges and citrus fruit, I was delighted to discover a third-generation grove celebrating 75 years in business. We also stumbled upon a charming little citrus museum that helped us learn more about the area’s citrus history, all right here in Vero Beach. How fun!

We signed up for their $10-per-person grove tour, which they offer a couple of times a month on Monday mornings. When we arrived, we first wandered through their market—and it turns out they offer much more than just citrus. You’ll find everything from pretty plates and small-batch mixes to local meat, seafood, honey, raw milk, sweets, baked goods… and yes, even ice cream.

Our tour was led by Henry F. Schacht himself, and over the next hour we learned a lot. I knew oranges came to Florida by way of Spain, but I didn’t realize their origins trace back to Southeast China, near the Himalayan foothills. The sweet oranges we eat today are actually hybrids of pomelos and mandarins.

There are many different varieties of oranges, and Schacht Groves grows six—including the rare Honeybell. During the tour, we got to pick and eat a Sugarbell orange (a cross between an orange and a clementine), which was incredibly sweet and juicy. We also sampled a Bingo mandarin, which was easy to peel and had a lovely flavor.

As we walked through the groves, Henry shared the family’s story. The grove began in 1950, when his father, Henry H. Schacht, visited the area and purchased 50 acres of farmland to grow citrus. (The grove is now over 145 acres.) Their fruit quickly gained a reputation for being especially sweet and juicy. In 1970, Henry F. joined the family business and realized customers were willing to pay more for fruit that was gift-packed and shipped. That insight led to a gift-shipping service that’s still thriving today.

Producing citrus hasn’t been without challenges. Over the past 20 years, a bacterial infection known as citrus greening spread through Florida’s citrus industry, devastating many groves and forcing others out of business. In the last five or so years, however, remaining growers have learned how to treat affected trees with antibiotics to keep both the trees—and their fruit—healthy.

After our walk through the grove, we visited their small packing facility. Henry explained how the oranges are sorted and graded for shipping, selling in the market, or juicing. Any leftover fruit doesn’t go to waste—it becomes feed for pigs. We ended the tour back in the market with a taste of their fresh-squeezed orange juice and, of course, another chance to shop.

What impressed me most was hearing how the family continues to evolve to stay relevant. During COVID, they expanded their market to make buying local goods easier, and today they host a variety of events. In addition to grove tours, there are farm-to-table dinners, pizza nights, and even seasonal festivals.

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The Indian River Citrus Museum is a small, one-room space packed with information about citrus growing in the area. When we stopped in, a volunteer named Kathleen enthusiastically shared local citrus history—and even told us about Schacht Groves, which led us to visit there.

Early Florida settlers began growing citrus in the 1800s (like Hiram Smith Williams from Rockland and the Sams family from Merritt Island). It was rough going. The land had to be cleared, trees planted and nurtured, and settlers dealt with land disputes with Native Americans who still lived in the area. Add in bugs, alligators, Florida panthers, black bears, and the now-extinct black wolf, and it was truly hard living.

One of the most fascinating parts of the museum is its collection of vintage citrus box labels. Between 1889 and 1960, growers used colorful labels on wooden crates to indicate fruit grade—blue for top grade, red for second, and yellow, gold, or black for damaged or inferior fruit. Some labels were designed to catch the attention of buyers up north and featured outdoor scenes or “Flo,” an attractive woman shown in a bathing suit.

If you’re in the area and have a half hour to spare, it’s a sweet little museum and gift shop. The suggested donation is $5 per person.

…working groves, family stories, and a slower pace that invites you to linger a bit longer. From tasting oranges right off the tree to flipping through citrus labels from another era, this stop in Vero Beach reminded us why we love seeking out these smaller, story-rich experiences.

So what’s next? We’ve got a few more off-the-path Florida finds lined up, and we can’t wait to share where the road takes us next. 🍊✨

‘til next week, happy exploring!
Kathleen

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