Navelina, Washington Navel, Valencia and Lane Late oranges, plus Star Ruby, Rio Red and White Marsh grapefruit: variety differences, uses and harvest periods.
Among orange varieties, the early-season Navelina, the navel and seedless Washington Navel, and the late-season, table-and-processing-type Valencia stand out. This diversity enables uninterrupted year-round supply.
These three classic varieties extend even further with Lane Late, which ripens roughly four to six weeks after Washington Navel; this late-season navel variety can stay on the tree for a long time without losing quality, widening the harvest window between late spring and early summer. Grapefruit shows a similar complementary pattern: alongside the red-fleshed Star Ruby and Rio Red, the white-fleshed, seedless White Marsh (Marsh Seedless) — one of the oldest grapefruit varieties grown in Turkey — appeals to table markets seeking a sharper, classic grapefruit flavor.
Variety differences are largely shaped by end use: navel varieties are geared toward fresh table consumption thanks to their seedless structure and thick skin, while late-season varieties like Valencia, with their high juice content, suit both the table and the juice industry. In grapefruit, flesh color is a matter of preference: red-fleshed varieties offer a sweeter profile, while white-fleshed varieties appeal to those seeking the traditional sharp grapefruit taste.
How citrus is graded and sized for export
Regardless of variety, citrus entering export channels is sorted under Codex Alimentarius and UNECE marketing standards into quality classes — Extra, Class I, and Class II — with each class carrying its own defect tolerance; Extra-class lots are typically held to a much tighter external-blemish tolerance than Class II. Sizing is expressed as a numeric caliber code tied to fruit diameter: roughly 60-110 mm for oranges and 70-139 mm for grapefruit, with each range broken into individual codes. Buyers order by variety, class, and caliber code together, so an exporter's ability to sort consistently to those three specifications — not just grow good fruit — is what determines which markets a given lot can reach.
You can visit our Orange and Grapefruit product pages for detailed variety and season information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between red-fleshed and white-fleshed grapefruit?
Red-fleshed varieties like Star Ruby and Rio Red offer a sweeter profile, while white-fleshed varieties like White Marsh appeal to buyers seeking the traditional, sharper grapefruit taste.
How late in the season can navel oranges be harvested?
Lane Late, a late-season navel variety, ripens roughly four to six weeks after Washington Navel and can stay on the tree without losing quality into early summer.