Celebrating citrus in Florida

Southern Living, Nov 2003 by McKenzie, Jennifer L

Stop by Mack's Groves for a sweet taste of the Sunshine State.

Throw out that plastic bottle of vitamin C pills. At Mack's, take your vitamins the old-fashioned way.

Mack's Groves, a Sunshine State legend since 1954, stocks some of the sweetest fruit in the state, all from the famed Indian River area. When you first arrive, you'll see a rainbow of orange, yellow, and pink globes stacked high.

The most popular varieties include the Florida navel oranges and honeybells. The navel oranges become available in November, but you'll have to wait until January for the honeybells. This month is also the time for the pink seedless grapefruit and sunburst tangerines. Visitors are invited to nibble samples of whatever's ripe.

Mack's Groves also features a juice bar where you can purchase citrus salads, smoothies, Key lime pie, and, of course, fresh-squeezed orange and grapefruit juices.

A Tale of Oranges

Mack's Groves began as a roadside stand in the small town of Dania, Florida. Mack Bess, fresh out of high school, set up a rustic shed adjacent to his family home and began selling oranges and grapefruits to weary winter travelers. He called his roadside business Mack's Orange Box.

Mack kept this up, with his wife, Ginny, for 20 years, until he passed away at the age of 37. The Vrana family, Mack's friends, bought the company from Ginny when she could no longer handle it. It still remains under their stewardship.

One thing that's stayed the same is that at Mack's Groves you can take a slice of sunny Florida back home with you. Or, send some to the family who had to hold down the fort for you. Mack's ships more than 60,000 boxes of citrus a year across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Once an order is placed, it is packed and shipped within 24 hours. Beats a postcard any day.

Sunny Souvenirs

Everyone needs a plastic alligator, right? Okay, so not really. Visitors to Mack's will find Florida tropical-themed gifts, fun hand-painted furniture, and seaside-inspired paintings. For chefs, you can pick out Key lime-flavored cooking supplies as well as citrus marmalades, jams, and candies. Mack's Lauderdale-by-the-Sea location also offers fashionable, reasonably priced resort wear and accessories, including casual shoes and handbags.

Whatever you decide to buy, make sure to visit one of Mack's two locations with an empty car trunk. You'll want room to stock up on your old-fashioned vitamins.

JENNIFER L. MCKENZlE

Mack's Groves: 4405 North Ocean Drive, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL 33308; (954) 776-0910. Also located at 1180 North Federal Highway, Pompano Beach, FL 33062; (954) 941-4528. Web site: www.macks-groves.com.