Buy Specialty Fruit in Orlando
 

My family and I are making a trip to Orlando and I thought since I was down there I might try to see if I could get my hands on some varieties of bananas and other specialty fruits. Are there any fruit markets, farmer's markets, or anything of the sort around there where someone might be able to buy a few different types of bananas for a taste testing?

Re: Buy Specialty Fruit in Orlando
 

Roadside stands are often best for that but even then can be hard. Since winters have been warm some stands may have local bananas. Sapotes and jack fruits can be harder to get. Sad thing is that walmart often has more sapotes than anywhere. Some of the better tropical fruits don't pack and ship well.

Re: Buy Specialty Fruit in Orlando
 

Check out the Orlando Craigslist farm and garden section. There are several people advertising fruit trees; I know in the past I've seen folks selling fruit. Contacting plant sellers might be a start in your quest.

Re: Buy Specialty Fruit in Orlando
 

That was silly of me. Craigslist should have been my first thought. I would have never thought Walmart would have some of that fruit, but I'm sure I'll check there. The kids are excited about Disneyworld, and we usually have a stop at Walmart to buy some souvenirs without the giant in-park markup.

Thanks for both of the great ideas.

Re: Buy Specialty Fruit in Orlando
 

Go to Crystal River and swim with the manatees.

Re: Buy Specialty Fruit in Orlando
 

Kings bay stays warm.

Manatee Tours

Re: Buy Specialty Fruit in Orlando
 

That really looks like fun, but it's about an hour and a half away. I'll look to see if there's something on the Atlantic coast like it.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, for my kids, I am a marine biologist, so whenever I try to show them things like this, they kind of shrug because they've been around this stuff so much. So, it's hard to tell if they'd be interested or just think it's another one of Dad's weird things. They saw a manatee carcass that we did a necropsy on one day years ago, but I assume this may be a bit different ...

Re: Buy Specialty Fruit in Orlando
 

I would check out the Asian/Hispanic markets around there. Probably not much in the offerings for bananas (probably Manzano or Red type), but best bet for other type of fruit, Sapodilla, Durian, cactus pears, persimmons and such.

DM

Re: Buy Specialty Fruit in Orlando
 

Oh, crumbs! I forgot about Asian markets. Thanks DM.