Nestled at a busy crossroads in Fort Myers, Florida, a metal-walled forest green building peddles some of the region’s tastiest treats. The only signifier that something extraordinary lies inside is the sherbet-colored outdoor playground next to an oversize statue of an orange, but once you walk through the doors of Sun Harvest Citrus, you immediately get an idea of what makes it so special. The shelves are packed with colorful Floridian fares, the air is perfumed with fresh fruit and baked goods, and a line of customers snakes through the center of the store.
About Sun Harvest Citrus
This place got its start as a humble farming operation. In 1940, founder Robert Edsall Sr. began growing and selling his own citrus from his patch of South Florida land. Sun Harvest didn’t have its own retail space until 50 years later, and since then, it has continued to grow and expand its offerings while still staying true to its roots and putting local farmers first.
Everything they sell is grown or made in the state, with products from several other area makers prominently displayed throughout the store. Sun Harvest promises, “Whether you visit us in person or order online, you’re buying directly from the farmers who grow it. No warehouses, no distributors. Just Florida’s freshest fruit and finest local flavors, straight from our family farmers to your family table.”
Step Inside
On a recent trip to Fort Myers to visit my in-laws, we stopped in at Sun Harvest Citrus so my nephew could enjoy the jungle gym while my mother-in-law hunted for one-of-a-kind gifts. Everyone else had a mission, but I had the luxury of strolling through the store and taking everything in at my own pace.
Of course, as an operation that got its start as a citrus grove, the first items I spotted were the bins overflowing with fresh honeybells, tangerines, grapefruits, and navel oranges. There was even a self-serve buffet of wedges to sample that was reminiscent of a grocery store salad bar…