The juice of navel oranges is not desirable for processing due to the bitterness caused by limonin. As there is a tendency for the variety to mutate, there are many navel strains. Choice of horticulturally well tested selections is therefore important. The fruit peels relatively easily and sectionalizes well.
Fruit tends to be lower in acid content than most orange varieties.
The navel structure seen at the blossom end of the fruit is actually a partially formed secondary fruit. Premature yellowing and rot, a characteristic of its structure, results in premature fruit drop. The two periods of fruit drop, early and late summer, can account for 15-20 percent of the crop some years. 2,4-D sprays may be used to reduce this. Fruit from trees on lemon-type rootstocks tend to dry out prematurely.