When people think of citrus in the US they don’t usually think of Texas. However, there is nothing better than a Texas Navel or the prized Valley Lemons.
My childhood was filled with the sweet smell of orange blossoms and the feeling of rich dirt and mud between my toes. My grandparents how 7 acres of orange orchard just outside of the town that I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley. I was so close to my grandpa who spent nearly every day out in his beautiful lush orchard. Grandpa Fox was a perfectionist. He never let a single weed grow in the orchard or in his yard for that matter and took such great pride in making sure he had the best fruit in the area.
I can still remember the crisp fall days and sitting with him in his old jeep with the trailer hooked up to his 1930’s Ford red tractor. That trailer was overflowing with freshly picked navel oranges and ruby red grapefruit. He taught me so much when I would go out and spend the days with them. He taught me how to be kind but firm with customers. He showed me how to give the best customer service and always make sure the customer was getting the best fruit possible. It was a simple time and yet it is part of the reason I am who I am today.
It’s hard now that my grandparents are gone and that majestic orchard with is lush dark chocolate dirt that seemed to be magic and could grow anything is now covered over with caliche and cattle…but the memories and lessons that I learned from that place and time live on in me and how I run by business and live my life today.
I hope that when this sign hangs in your home that the pleasant memories and nostalgic feelings will fill your heart with as much happiness and love that I feel when thinking of the good ol’ days back on that little orchard in Texas.