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Open 7/27/2019

Greetings All,

We will be open Saturday, 7/27/19 10 am to 3 pm and Sunday if supply lasts!

We still have some mangoes available and some Wax Jambu.
It looks like we will have the following this weekend;
Valencia Pride
Kent (photos on instagram)
Keitt
Galaxy
Golden Nugget
Miracle

Remember, the parking and please don’t block the road. Please keep small children out of the road and close by your side.

Construction is still going on, so please don’t wander into the orchard.

Thank you again.

See you soon.
Nick.

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Open July 20th

Greetings and Thank You again for last week. We had a bit of a traffic jam last week. This week could also be busy as the roofers will be putting the roof on the new pavilion this Saturday.
Please be careful and please do not wander into the orchard.

We will be open on Saturday 7/20/19 at 10:00 am
We’ll have Valencia Pride, Galaxy and a few more.

Kent and Keitt are still at least a week away.

PARKING
1. With respect to parking, please drive down Hilliard Lane, approximately 200 feet, and pass the palm tree that will be on your left. See attached photo.

2. Also, please make sure that when you do park, you are off the pavement. We cannot block the road.

3. Please do not stop in the middle of the road in front of the tables, just park.

4. Most importantly, please watch your kids! Please keep them out of the road as it is actively being used by the neighbors.

See you on Saturday.
Nick.

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Mango & Lychee Update

Greetings Everyone.

Were getting close to opening and I want to share the latest information with you.

Lychees are starting to turn red but are still a bit small. I’m thinking at least another week and a half until they are ready. Expect lychee to be at least $5.25 per pound.

Mango Update
I’ve been speaking with other growers on South Merritt Island and I’ve heard numbers like this year’s crop is around 20% of last year’s crop. Basically, this is not a plentiful year for mangoes. Valencia Pride trees that in the past that have produced well, are almost bare.

So basically, be prepared to pay $3.00 per pound. We hope to have some mangoes in the $2.50 per pound range as well.

Wax Jambu
Trees are just starting to flower. Maybe in the middle of June.

Regards,
Nick

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Fruit Status 2019

Greetings Everyone!

I hope this note finds you well.

Where should I begin? How about a bad hail storm last month and a bad thunderstorm on 4/19/2019 to start? Between these two storms, many developing mangoes have been blown off the trees and some have hail damage to the fruit (see photos). This is certainly going to lower the yield for this year’s crop.

Oh well, there is nothing you can do about Mother Nature.
I’m starting to get calls asking about fruit availability, so let me answer. The short answer is nothing is ready yet. I expect lychees around June followed by mangoes in July. We did have some Nam Doc Mai trees bloom early and the fruit is getting big. It appears that they may be ready in the May time frame which is unusual.

My outlook for 2019 changes after every storm. If we keep having these weather events, it’s going to be a sad year.

So, about the fruit;

Lychee As the orchard matures, we collect more and more data. As of now, it appears that my lychee trees like to fruit every other year. Last year, 2018, was a good year for lychee. The previous year, 2017 was not a good year. I believe only 13 of the lychee trees flowered. This year, even less of my lychee trees have flowered. None of the Brewester or Emperor trees have flowered and there are a minimal number of Hak Ip. There are a few Mauritius and Sweetheart that have flowered and set fruit. I anticipate working with some other local growers to be able to provide lychees this year. It looks like there may be some Mauritius and Brewster available.

Longan It appears that the longan trees are following the lychee trees. Not many flowers this year. Last year, 2018 was a good longan year.

Wax Jambu Have not seen any flowers yet. Perhaps towards July we will see some flowers.

Mango Should be an OK year as long as the storms stop.

Peaches We no longer grow peaches. Most have been replaced with lychee and mango trees.

Avocados They were damaged by the hurricanes and are slow to recover.

White Guava They required way too much labor. Each fruit had to be covered to protect from insects. They were replaced with lychee trees.

About The Orchard

Those of you old timers will notice some new additions.
Video cameras. Due to our past vandalism problem, we have installed video cameras. There is a 100% chance you will be on camera. Don’t worry, Facebook and the FBI already know everything about you.

New Pavilion
We are in the process of building a pavilion with a roof to act as our new sales location.
It is located directly across from the big oak tree that we have used for the past several years. The area we used to place the tables and scales will now be parking.

Visitor Guidelines

First, I need to tell you what the State of Florida and the insurance company wants you to know… you’ll see this sign again, when you come to the Grove. It’s required by law.

NOTICE OF INHERENT RISK

WARNING
Under Florida law, an agritourism operator is not liable for injury or death of, or damage or loss to, a participant in an agritourism activity conducted at this agritourism location if such injury, death, damage, or loss results from the inherent risks of the agritourism activity. Inherent risks of agritourism activities include, among others, risks of injury inherent to land, equipment, and animals, as well as the potential for you to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury, death, damage, or loss.You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.
Ch. 2013-179 LAWS OF FLORIDA

Now that you’ve read that, let me tell you that if we are able to offer you the opportunity to enter the property, you are going out to a working farm and out into a real fruit orchard. There are things you should keep an eye out for. Most of the things are the same sort of hazards you’d find in your own backyard. In a grove, you can encounter many different things- bees, fire ants and other bugs, snakes or a wild animal, sand spurs or an animal hole in the ground. Just watch where you’re going and be careful.

For their safety, parents keep children at your side at all times and listen to our staff. We love to see small kids, however we are not a playground. Please make sure your kids behave so everyone can enjoy.

Our staff knows their way around and will bring you out to our orchard and show you where to pick. Please stay in the picking area that our staff puts you in. There may be employees working in other areas of the orchard with machinery and they’re NOT looking for you and we don’t want you to get hurt, being where you don’t belong.

Nick’s Island Tropical Fruit reserves the right to inspect returning wagons, strollers and any other item.

Backpacks or large bags/ large purses are NOT allowed out in the orchard.

Please do not bring any valuables or purses out to the orchard.

Nick’s Island Tropical Fruit will not be responsible for loss of any item.

Children must be with a parent at all times.

No eating in the orchard. Please don’t bring any food into the orchard and please don’t eat our fruit while in the orchard.

All sales are final. Pick only what you intend on paying for. You will be charged for all fruit picked.

Payment We only accept cash as a form of payment. This makes things really simple for both of us.

Animals No animals allowed. All animals must stay in your car.

Toilets We currently do not have a restroom facility. Please make sure you take care of things before you reach the orchard.

Smoking We are a non-smoking establishment.

Any questions, call 321-243-2997

Regards, Nick

You can also follow us on Instagram. #nicksfruit

Regards,
Okie

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Lychees in June!

Greetings All, we expect to start selling lychees in in the June time frame and mangoes to follow in July. Join our e-mail list for current updates.

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Closed for the Season!

Greetings all,
Just a quick note, we will not be open this weekend. We are done for the season. Thanks for Coming out
Thank you,
Nick.

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News

Longans, Valencia Pride and Jambu!

Hello Everyone!
Looks like the birds have determined that the Longans are ready. So, before they eat all of them….we’re going to start selling them.
They will be $5.00 per pound. Bring your own cutters just in case we are able to let you help us pick them.
We will be open this weekend Friday – Saturday – Sunday
Hours;
Friday 1 pm to 3 pm
Saturday & Sunday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Look for the yellow balloons, that will be the entrance to the farm.
We will have the following mangoes for sale;
Cash Only
Valencia Pride: $3.00 per pound
Carrie: $3.00 per pound
Nam Doc Mai: $3.00 per pound
Cogshall: $3.00 per pound
Graham (Julie): $3.00 per pound
Malika: $2.50 per pound
Haden: $2.00 per pound
Tommy Atkins: $2.00 per pound
And a few others.
The official address of the orchard is 60 Hilliard Lane, Merritt Island, Florida 32952. However, Google and some GPS units have a hard time finding it. If you are using a GPS, I would use the address 6845 South Tropical Trail, Merritt Island, FL 32952. This will take you to Hilliard Lane. If we are open, you will see tables and scales and probably one of us sitting in a chair under the big Oak tree.
We don’t make the mangoes or Longans, we grow them. Mother Nature decides on the size and when they ripen.
Please do not enter the orchard without permission. There is a big yellow sign that needs to be read before entering the orchard.
For the most part, we will have the fruit already picked. There are opportunities to take photos in the orchard, especially with children. We think it is important to show young kids where fruit comes from and learn something about agriculture. We expect that children will behave, be accompanied by an adult and not pick fruit off the tree unless prior permission is given.
Currently, we do not have any restroom facilities onsite. Please take care of things beforehand.
We do not allow pets. Please leave them in your car.
We only accept cash as a form of payment.
If you find something cheaper at another location, simply go there. We don’t need to hear about it.
We hear references to “bushel”, “half-bushel”, and box. We sell everything by the pound, not individual pieces. We don’t have a bushel, half-bushel, or a box price. Any specials will be noted on a sign posted by the scales.
We cannot hold fruit and wait until you show up.
We only open when we have something to sell, so we don’t keep regular hours. When we do open it is typically from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Any questions, call 321-243-2997
Regards, Nick
You can also follow us on Instagram. #nicksfruit

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News

Mangoes in July

OPEN FOR MANGOES!
Hello Everyone!
We will be open this weekend 7/72018 and 7/8/2018 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm unless it rains in the afternoon.
We will have the following mangoes for sale; Cash Only!

Carrie: $3.00 per pound (If you buy 100 pounds it will be $2.50 per pound)
Nam Doc Mai: $3.00 per pound
Cogshall: $3.00 per pound
Graham: (Julie) $3.00 per pound
Malika: $2.50 per pound
Glenn: $2.50 per pound
Haden: $2.00 per pound
Tommy Atkins: $2.00 per pound
And a few others.
The official address of the orchard is 60 Hilliard Lane, Merritt Island, Florida 32952. However, Google and some GPS units have a hard time finding it. If you are using a GPS, I would use the address 6845 South Tropical Trail, Merritt Island, FL 32952. This will take you to Hilliard Lane. If we are open, you will see tables and scales and probably one of us sitting in a chair under the big Oak tree.
We don’t make the mangoes, we grow them. Mother Nature decides on the size and when they ripen.
Please do not enter the orchard without permission. There is a big yellow sign that needs to be read before entering the orchard.
For the most part, we will have the fruit already picked. There are opportunities to take photos in the orchard, especially with children. We think it is important to show young kids where fruit comes from and learn something about agriculture. We expect that children will behave, be accompanied by an adult and not pick fruit off the tree unless prior permission is given.
Currently, we do not have any restroom facilities onsite. Please take care of things beforehand.
We do not allow pets. Please leave them in your car.
We only accept cash as a form of payment.
If you find something cheaper at another location, simply go there. We don’t need to hear about it.
We hear references to “bushel”, “half-bushel”, and box. We sell everything by the pound, not individual pieces. We don’t have a bushel, half-bushel, or a box price. Any specials will be noted on a sign posted by the scales.
We cannot hold fruit and wait until you show up.
We only open when we have something to sell, so we don’t keep regular hours. When we do open it is typically from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Any questions, call 321-243-2997
Regards, Nick
You can also follow us on Instagram. #nicksfruit
www.islandtropicalfruit.com

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News

2018 Fruit Season

Greetings Everyone, I’ve been getting many calls lately so here’s the latest as of 5/23/2018; Keep in mind that the orchard has been hit two years in a row by hurricanes. The trees are feeling it. We have five varieties of Lychee; Sweetheart, Mauritius, Brewster, Emperor and Hak Ip. The first to come ripe are Sweetheart and Mauritius, followed by Brewster, Emperor and Hak Ip. This year (like last year) lychees will be limited. It looks like the Mauritius and Sweethearts will be ready around June 1st. I check them every day and will update via the e-mail list. There will be no Hak Ip this year.
Mango season is still about two weeks away from today 5/23/2018
The Wax Jambu trees have just now started to flower. Expect 2-3 weeks after that for available fruit. Remember to join our email list for the latest updates.

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2017 Fruit Season Has Ended

Thank you all very much for your support. We will be closed until next year. Please join our e-mail list for periodic updates.