Water is one of the most important factors in cultivation. Water enables the tree to grow and produce fruit. The average grower will spend approximately two hundred forty dollars per acre-foot a year. That means a grower who owns a hundred acres of oranges will likely spend twenty four thousand dollars a year in water costs alone. Even though water is costly, without this natural resource growing oranges would be impossible.

Chemicals are another important factor when it comes to farming oranges. Because of the diseases and the insects that can harm the tree and the growth of the orange, specialized chemicals have been developed to alleviate problems that may prevent the tree from producing a quality orange. Weeds, like trees, also require special applications of chemicals to prevent unwanted pests, from infesting a grove. Chemicals are a must in farming. Failing to apply chemicals when necessary can

Harvesting of navel oranges usually begins in the month of October. Before harvesting can be considered, navel oranges must meet county agricultural requirements. Oranges must test for a sugar ratio of eight point zero or above. If oranges are picked before meeting county standards, the oranges will be red tagged until requirements are met or will be disposed. It is the responsibility of the packinghouse to make sure that oranges are tested before harvesting (Internet 1).

After the oranges have been harvested and brought to the packinghouse, they are checked for color again. If the oranges do not have a bright orange color, which is unusual from October through December, they are then placed in large rooms called sweat rooms. These rooms were designed to enhance the color of oranges and other citrus varieties to its original bright color. The sizes of these rooms vary. Many can hold as much as four hundred bins. Just how green the oranges are will determine how long they will be in a sweat room. Dark green colored oranges can sit sweat rooms up to five days before they are ready for the packing process any longer the fruit will deteriorate.

Growing oranges takes time and money. When eating an orange, few people stop to consider the effort required to move that orange from the tree to their hand.

Sizing for packing is done mechanically. There are many differen

Some topics in this essay:
Grove Hand, October December, tree maintenance, packing process, growing oranges, harvesting oranges, packing process oranges, oranges packed, oranges harvested, process oranges, row grove, packed oranges, quality orange,