Extra fruit? What do you do with it?

5 years ago

what do you do with your extra citrus fruit when your tree produces more than you can eat/juice?

I live in Ca...giving to family/friends, at workplace and other places exhausted, plus everyone else has their own fruit....and shipping the fruit out of state requires lots of licensing, I just grow in my yard and I hate to see it go to waste. I know I can donate to local food pantries, but even they have had some restrictions lately on citrus.

Any bright ideas?

thanks!

-s

Featured Answer

Ike Stewart

5 years ago

I certainly understand your situation, I give away what I can, thankfully this year was a light harvest year, when compared to the last couple of years. See photo from last year of one of my Satsuma trees, this year I barely got 75 pounds of fruit off that tree

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Comments (13)

Denise Becker
5 years ago
I wish I had your problem. lol. Right now my trees are really small. I would juice the fruit and freeze it into cubes for use later. When I had extra vegetables, I took them into my doctors' offices whenever I had appointments and they all appreciated whatever they received. One idea is to sell your fruit at the local flea/farmers markets.
bklyn citrus (zone 7B)
5 years ago
Carry some, and give it where you shop or conduct business, your hair cutter, nurses at hospital, anybody...everyone loves a bribe
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dbarron
5 years ago
Yeah, wish I could get your surplus ;) Fruit is expensive.
Amanda Tyner
5 years ago
I am so jealous! I would love extra fruit. Are you a baker or canner? Most citrus can be used to make something that stores.
bklyn citrus (zone 7B)
5 years ago
Make Citrus Hootch...Liqueur
John 9a
5 years ago
Sometimes citrus is like tomatoes in areas where folks can grow them. Everyone is overrun when they are in season. Yes, its a great problem but you don't want any to go to waste when you have spent some much effort and $$ through they year. A neighbor had a Satsuma tree loaded with overripe fruit that she didn't have time to pick and use. I juiced it, shared some and froze the rest in quart freezer containers. It can be enjoyed at 100% strength so you can drink gallons as it is. Lemon juice is more difficult to use in gallons. I am trying different recipes but they usually only call for a cup or so. Still, I freeze lemon juice in ice cube trays, pop out the cubes and store them in quart freezer bags. They do get icy but it doesn't seem to change the flavor. I'm making lemonade, ginger ale, and sometimes a lemon pie. Calamondin is also a great fruit to juice and freeze in cubes. I have heard grapefruit juice is a great beef jerky marinade but haven't tried it. There ARE some citrus like lemon that just aren't used in bulk. Maybe that's just another thing to consider when choosing trees.
Amanda Tyner
5 years ago
Rent a truck and drive up north with your fruit haha. We pay $4 a pound for most citrus. Sell it for 3 and we will be happy haha!
gardengirl37232
5 years ago
I juice and freeze. I also make sorbet and marmalade. Folks who have their own trees don’t turn down marmalade because most don’t make their own.
Silica
5 years ago
Don't you have a food bank in your area? There is a lot of need for fresh fruit.
Denise Becker
5 years ago
I think Meals on Wheels may take your fruit too.
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
5 years ago
I have traded extra produce at the farmers market from time to time.
Kelly(zone 10a, California) GrowingCitrus
5 years ago
I never thought of donating. I have lots of family and friends that like lemons but we still end up with a ton of Meyers. I do the same as John, freeze in ice cube trays. I love strawberry lemonade and use it in soups, sauces....freezes really well! Still waiting on an abundance of oranges, grapefruits and limes. All baby trees!

Extra fruit? What do you do with it?

Ike Stewart

Comments (13)

Denise Becker

bklyn citrus (zone 7B)

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dbarron

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raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio

Kelly(zone 10a, California) GrowingCitrus

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