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Pine Island: The Fruity Guide

• September 14, 2017

What’s your fruity favourite? Are you dreaming of papaya? Canistel? Coconut? Black Sapote? Or are you simply longing for avocado?
 
Well, all your wishes can come true just 30 minutes from Fort Myers at Pine Island – the largest island off Florida’s Gulf Coast.
 
Florida’s fruit haven is just overflowing with these goodies this fall. But the fruity treats don’t stop there…
 
In winter it’s all about starfruit, bananas and citrus fruit. In spring guava, passionfruit and custard apple take centre stage. And in the summer the island is fit to burst with mangoes, lychee, dragon fruit, key lime, jackfruit and atemoya.
 
This deliciously secluded island not only boasts some of the best fruity treats in Florida, it also offers a quiet laid-back atmosphere, plenty of world-class fishing opportunities, an artist’s enclave and a lush natural environment that seems custom-created for fertile fruit groves.
 
Here are five of our favourite tropical farmers’ markets on the island. Take just one bite of their uber-juicy fruit and your taste buds will be blown away!
 
1. Pine Island’s Tropical Farmers Market, Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia
Pine Island’s Tropical Farmers Market is a local co-operative featuring plenty of tropical fruits, organic vegetables, raw honey, jams, chutneys and beautiful tropical fruit trees.
 
2. Pine Island Tropicals, Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia
This popular, colorful, eye-catching market offers an amazing assortment tropical plants, vegetables, flowers, fruits and Momma Donna’s tropical fruit jams and breads.
 
3. Pine Island Botanicals, Inc, Aubrey Lane, Bokeelia
This nursery is the only one in southwest Florida to grow organic produce all year round. The unique climate and environment allows the growth of many tropical and subtropical exotic fruits, mustard greens and vegetables 12 months a year.
 
4. Fruit Scapes LLC, Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia
Customers will delight in the fruits at this nursery. Mango, lychee, dragon fruit and dozens more ensure a sweet and delicious experience.
 
5. Promised Land Mangoes, Pineland Road, Bokeelia
The motto at this farm is: Farming the way God intended it. They have everything mango at Promised Land, from mango jam to mango honey.
 
If you’d like to sample some mind-blowing fruit this fall, book yourself a stay at the beachfront Best Western PLUS Beach Resort Hotel. When you’re not busy sampling the local papaya and coconut, you can enjoy uninterrupted views of the Gulf of Mexico from your private balcony.

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