Florida Tropical Fruits Guide

Written by Raheem, West Palm Beach Food Tours

Florida is one of the only places in the continental U.S. where true tropical fruit grows outdoors — mango, lychee, dragon fruit, sugar apple, mamey sapote, and dozens more come out of groves less than an hour from downtown West Palm Beach. I’ve spent the better part of every Saturday morning for the last few years wandering the West Palm Beach GreenMarket with a coffee in one hand and a very full produce bag in the other, and I still find something I’ve never tried. This is the guide I wish I’d had when I started.

Quick answer: what tropical fruit actually grows in Florida?

If you’re just here for the short version: South Florida’s subtropical climate supports mango, lychee, longan, dragon fruit, sugar apple, mamey sapote, sapodilla, carambola (star fruit), guava, passion fruit, jackfruit, and avocado, among others. Florida has roughly 13,000 acres of tropical fruit under cultivation, generating well over $100 million a year for growers, according to the University of Florida’s IFAS extension. Most of it is grown within a couple hours of West Palm Beach, and a good chunk of it shows up, still warm from the truck, at the West Palm Beach GreenMarket every Saturday.

The tropical fruits you’ll actually find at the GreenMarket

Mango

Florida mango season runs roughly May through October, but it moves in waves — Tommy Atkins leads off in May and June, Haden follows in June and July, and Keitt closes out the season into September. South Florida is home to nearly 500 mango varieties, more than almost anywhere else in the country. My Exotic Fruits and Jerry’s Here Farm Fresh both bring in multiple varieties depending on the week, so it’s worth asking what just came off the tree rather than grabbing the first one you see.

Lychee & Longan

These two show up together in early summer (typically June into July) and disappear fast — lychee season in Florida is short and sweet, quite literally. The ‘Mauritius’ variety is the one you’ll see most often at Florida markets. My Exotic Fruits usually has both when they’re running, and they go quickly once word gets out.

Dragon Fruit

Grown on cactus-like vines rather than trees, dragon fruit hits its stride from midsummer into fall. Look for a firm exterior with even color — the bright pink skin is dramatic, but the flavor is genuinely mild, so don’t expect the color to translate to intensity.

Sugar Apple (custard apple)

One of the more polarizing fruits on this list — creamy, custardy, and easy to eat with a spoon once it softens. Florida sugar apple has an unusually long window, roughly June through February, with the heaviest supply in late summer and early fall.

Mamey Sapote & Sapodilla

Mamey sapote (dense, sweet, almost pumpkin-spice in flavor) has close to a year-round presence in Florida, peaking from August through October. Sapodilla, its brown-skinned cousin, runs spring through summer. Both are grown commercially just west of West Palm Beach, and Produce Buddies typically carries whichever is closer to peak.

Carambola, Guava, Passion Fruit & Jackfruit

Rounding out the list: carambola (star fruit) and guava both peak in summer and fall; passion fruit takes over in fall and winter; and jackfruit — the giant of the bunch, sometimes over 40 pounds — has a shorter summer window. Between My Exotic Fruits, Produce Buddies, and Jerry’s Here Farm Fresh, at least one of these is usually on a table somewhere in the market.

Florida tropical fruit season calendar

Seasons vary by year and rainfall; sources: University of Florida IFAS, growables.org seasonal fruit calendar, and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

Meet the vendors growing and selling these fruits

My Exotic Fruits is the GreenMarket stop I send people to first when they say they’ve “never had a real mango.” Their table changes week to week depending on what’s ripening, which is exactly why it’s worth a repeat visit.

Produce Buddies rounds out the fruit stand with Florida-grown seasonal produce alongside their tropical offerings — a good one-stop table if you want fruit and vegetables in the same bag.

Jerry’s Here Farm Fresh is a genuine family operation at the GreenMarket, and it shows — they know their fruit by variety, not just by name, and they’re happy to tell you which mango is which.

FAQ

What tropical fruits grow in Florida? Florida grows mango, lychee, longan, dragon fruit, sugar apple, mamey sapote, sapodilla, carambola (star fruit), guava, passion fruit, jackfruit, and avocado, among other varieties, thanks to its subtropical South Florida climate.

When is mango season in Florida? Florida mango season runs roughly May through October, with different varieties peaking at different points — Tommy Atkins in May–June, Haden in June–July, and Keitt in August–September.

Where can I buy fresh tropical fruit in West Palm Beach? The West Palm Beach GreenMarket, open Saturdays, is the most reliable spot — vendors including My Exotic Fruits, Produce Buddies, and Jerry’s Here Farm Fresh sell fruit that’s often picked within days of the market.

What’s the easiest way to try several tropical fruits in one visit? Go on a Saturday morning and plan to hit multiple fruit stands, or join a guided tour like Mornings in the Market so a local can point you toward what’s actually in season that week and skip the guesswork.

The easiest way to try it all

Reading about a dozen fruits is one thing — tasting your way through them, with someone who knows which mango variety is peaking that particular Saturday, is another. That’s exactly what our Mornings in the Market Food Tour is built for: a guided, small-group walk through the West Palm Beach GreenMarket — voted the #1 farmers market in the U.S. three years running by USA Today — with stops at My Exotic Fruits and the market’s other standout vendors, no lines, no guesswork.

• When: Saturdays, October through May, 9:00–11:00 a.m.
• Price: $72 per person (children 6 and under free)
• What’s included: Tastings from 12+ vendors plus one cocktail or non-alcoholic pairing

Reserve your spot on the Mornings in the Market Food Tour →