Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada tells us what it was like to grow up in Florida amongst the citrus groves. From enjoying fresh grapefruit to selling picked fruit from the basket of her bike, she cherishes her time in The Sunshine State.
Florida Beginnings
Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada grew up in Winter Haven in Central Florida’s Polk County. She loved growing up there, with neighborhoods lined with orange tree groves and other citrus. As a child, it seemed like the groves went on forever and ever.
Fresh Backyard Fruit
Jenn’s family home had four grapefruit trees in the backyard. They were tall, so her father would help Jenn and her siblings reach the fruit with a long pole equipped with a bag on the end. As they would shake the fruit, they’d fall into the bag. They’d enjoy these grapefruit with brown sugar or juicing them into freshly squeezed juice.
The Area Was All About Citrus
Polk County, and Winter Haven specifically, is all about citrus. Jenn didn’t have typical playgrounds as a kid, so everyone would hang out in the groves. They’d climb trees, pick fruit, and explore. She’d even fill the basket of her bike with fresh fruit that she’d try to sell.
Citrus Evokes Those Fond Memories
The smell of citrus evokes Jenn’s memories of Winter Haven. For example, the way an orange sprays as it’s peeled always brings Jenn back to her childhood, and she loves those positive memories.