Just an hour south of Miami is a candyland of tropical fruits ripe for picking.

Veinte Cohol bananas are a small, fast-growing variety with a creamy texture and citrusy tang.

They are rarely found outside of the Philippines.

Pair of photos from Homestead, FL, one showing bananas, and one showing fruit being picked

From left: Red bananas at the Fruit & Spice Park, in Homestead, Florida; harvesting carambolas at Paradise Farms.Credit:From left: Daniel Wilson/Alamy; Courtesy of PAradise Farms

We have 40 banana varieties, said Philip Romero, a guide at the park.

These are more flavorful than your typical store-bought Cavendish banana.

Everyone loves how petite they are.

A woman ordering a drink from a fruit stand

Ordering a shake at Robert Is Here.Michael Dwyer/Alamy

Located about an hours drive from downtown Miami, the area is a juicy bazaar for rare produce.

When the 45-minute tour came to a close, Romero wanted me to sample one more thing.

Next, I tasted a few red berries native to West Africa, then bit into the gamboge again.

Paif of photos from Florida, one showing a mango milkshake, and one showing a trail at a fruit orchard

From left: A mango milkshake from the farm stand Robert Is Here; the tree trail at Fruit & Spice Park.From left: Emergent Media/Courtesy of Visit Florida; courtesy of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau

This time the gamboge tasted sweet.

Thats why the berries are called Miracle Fruit, Romero said with a smile.

The agricultural estates that remain places like Berry Farm and Paradise Farms offer guided tours and sell produce.

It tasted like a cross between a banana and pineapple.

I think I found my favorite new fruit, I said.

There I met the owner, Peter Schnebly, at a circular oak bar.

Its our second-best-selling wine today.

I was pleasantly surprised.

Here are some highlights.

Fruit & Spice Park

A botanical garden that grows more than 500 varieties of fruits and vegetables.

Paradise Farms

A 17-acre organic farm that hosts tours and dinners.

Patch of Heaven Sanctuary

An ecological reserve that pairs meditative walks with fruit tastings.

Robert Is Here

A family-owned fruit and smoothie stand in operation since 1959.

Schnebly Redlands Winery

A winery and brewery that ferments tropical fruits.