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As many as the ka-zillion times I have driven past Sun Harvest Citrus I have never stopped in even though the parking lot always seems full. I might of known they sell more than oranges! Well, I did make that stop this week. It is a big, bright store full of all kinds of goodies!

Yummy stuff like orange and tangerine or orange and pineapple cherry marmalades, $5.29 a jar. Pumpkin butter, a big jar for $7.99. Ginger or lemon thins and almond cinnamon thins $2.99. How about a Tortuga Rum Cake? $5.99 for the small one or $18.99 for the large one.

There are all kinds of candies, mini rainbow frogs, gummy candy at $2.49. Swedish Fish, soft and chewy candy $2.39 or the coconut patties in orange or key lime 12 oz. just $5.99. There was Florida citrus candy, or salt water taffy in gourmet flavors. Beautiful seashell toffee crunch candy $5.99 for 10 oz. The chocogator, box of 6 mini gators are $5.29 or a large chocogator with gummy gators all boxed up ready for giving. Grandkids would go for these! Or maybe they would rather have the gator egg bubble gum. There were cute tins filled with chocolate key lime coolers.

Ever heard of a towel cake? These slices of cake were packaged up in single slices and some decorated with strawberries, (plastic) but they looked so real, in fact it was a towel that was cleverly packaged to look like cake.

I liked the green fuzzy gators that opened up to reveal a gator necklace or the blue fuzzy porpoise that revealed a sliver porpoise on a dainty silver chain each $6.99. Also found a whole array of dishes, cups and serving pieces in whimsical designs of fish, palm trees, shells or flamingos. Colorful wind chimes or garden stakes, and a selection of picture frames. Great puzzles with a Florida theme, Manatees, Gator Tales each had 1000 pieces and the Florida Destination puzzle was way cool, the whole state with 850 pieces to keep you busy for hours, each only $18.99. A great gift to send up North.

There were wonderful children's books, all about our area with mermaids or sea turtles and fish. To keep the little ones occupied by car or plane were an assortment of travel games. Pirates are so popular now...aaarh...there was a whole section of pirate goodies. A section for golf theme party items, Leanin' Tree greetings, tee's, caps and what kid wouldn't like a stuffie of a gator or flamingo? I liked the eggs hatching either a gator, pelican or flamingo $3.99... cute!

There is a whole section of all kinds of spices, marinades and gourmet foods, plus a juice bar even a bakery!! Who knew...in the Sun Harvest Citrus store!

Of course they make up the most beautiful baskets for gift giving like the Grande Floridian or the Orange Obsession, Island Retreat or Tropical Treat. I like the Gator Goodies with an assortment of Florida flavors, including Gator Hammock Gator Sauce, Gator Sprinkles and Swamp Mustard among other items. This basket is available year round as are some of the other baskets but those with our wonderful oranges are only available for ordering November through May when the oranges are at their best. Did you know you can send your friends or family two key lime pies shipped in custom insulated packaging via next day air? What a pleasant surprise that would be! We always send boxes of oranges to family in Canada at Christmas time but we always order on the 800 number. This was my first time in the store and I must admit I was pleasantly surprised!

Sun Harvest Citrus is located at 14810 Metro Parkway in Ft. Myers.

Phone: 1-800-743-1480.