It’s been 25 years since EG Rotary first offered boxes of oranges and grapefruit for sale to local residents. The idea for the Rotary Holiday Citrus Drive came from Rotarian Bill Foster – that Bill Foster, of Rhode Island Pendulum fame – who wanted to sell fresh-off-the-tree Florida citrus to a hungry public.
Yes, we can buy oranges and grapefruit at Dave’s, but there’s just something better about bringing home a box of citrus that fairly reeks of Florida.
It doesn’t hurt knowing that proceeds from the sale benefit local causes, including the EG Interfaith Food Cupboard, lights for Cragan Field, an anti-bullying campaign at EG public schools, the Greenwich Odeum, and many others. This year, EG Rotary has pledged $10,000 from the club’s next three citrus drives to benefit Kent Hospital Ambulatory Services Pavilion Capital Fund and $3,000 for the EG schools anti-bullying program.
Of course, there’s that Citrus Drive mystique – the phone call the night before or day off, to remind you to pick up your fruit; the pickup day that’s always chilly but full of bright, smiling faces ready to thank you for your purchase, and the box of wonderful oranges or (if you are me) grapefruit and now apples and pears too. The stuff of small-town life.
The 2014 Holiday Citrus Drive products are:
- cases of navel oranges are $32 for small (2450) and $39 for large (4880); pink grapefruit are $32 for small (1624) and $39 for large (3240)
- small cases of mixed oranges and grapefruits are $35;
- and 1/2 bushel of D’Anjou pears (4044) are $43.
- new this year, 1/2 bushel of Red Delicious apples for $40 and the Trio Box (6 each of apples, pears, and oranges) for $35.
Cases of fruit, when kept in a cool location like a garage, can last several months. The freshness of the fruit and customer satisfaction are guaranteed. If not completely satisfied, EG Rotary Club will either replace the fruit or refund the money. Order online at www.egrotary.org or call 885-4650. Order deadline is Nov. 28.
Customer pick up on Citrus Delivery Day is Saturday, December 13th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The pickup location is the same as it has been for the last 24 years: Greene Industries located at 65 Rocky Hollow Road in EG. On Citrus Delivery Day, customers never leave their cars. Their orders are loaded for them by Rotarians and EGHS students as they drive through Green Industries.
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