Have You Ever Heard of a Robinson Tangerine?

Pictured: Robinson Tangerine

Pictured: Robinson Tangerine

Robinson Tangerines

are one of the most popular of the citrus fruits on the market today. The hybrid mix that created them contains ¾ of the tangerine and ¼ of the grapefruit.

It was created in 1959 by Reece Gardner. The average size for the Robinson looks more like a tangerine, averaging in sizes between 2 ½ to 3 inches in diameter. The shape of it is flattened and has a small neck at the stem. The skin of Robinson tangerines is quite thin, making it an easy fruit to peel.

On average, the tangerine has up to 20+ seeds per fruit.. Cross pollination is used to cultivate these tangerines, so pollenizer trees are used, such as the Orlando, Temple, Sunburst or Lee. Those that aren’t planted through this method produce fewer seeds, fewer amounts of tangerines and are smaller in size. Cross pollination is used to increase productivity of the crops.

You will find Robinson tangerines harvesting between the months of October and December, so you can find them fresh during the fall and early winter. After sitting in the sun for a while, they tend to crack and the skin splits, which is a major problem farmers have.

The tree of Robinson tangerines grows upright and spreads and has brittle wood and dense foliage. The tree can withstand cold temperatures, but the tangerines cannot because they have thin skin. They perform well on most commercial rootstocks.

Why a Navel Orange is a Citrus Fruit For Many Choices

Fresh Navel Oranges from Florida

Fresh Navel Oranges from Florida

The Navel Orange is one of the most popular of the orange tree varietals and also one of the most unique and versatile.  Most people know that oranges have many important health benefits to humans.  Millions of people drink orange juice from navel oranges daily as a source of vitamin C, a main nutritional ingredient of navel oranges.  Vitamin C helps keep the human immune system strong, works to absorb iron in the body, helps heal wounds, and can even aid in preventing heart disease. 

Other important nutrients in navel oranges are beta-carotene, which prevents cell damage, calcium for strong, healthy bones, magnesium to maintain healthy blood pressure and potassium for cell electrolytes in balance.  The high fiber content in navel oranges can help improve cholesterol ratios in the body, which is important in controlling diabetes.  Other nutrients in navel oranges are also known to help to prevent other types of cancer as well, including stomach and esophagus cancer.  One of the best ways to get the right amount of these essential nutrients and others is to drink a fresh squeezed juice from a navel orange or to eat it right off the peel!

The navel orange is also a favorite addition to fruit salads or is used to make preserves or jams, such as the ever popular orange marmalade.  Orange oil from naval oranges is a byproduct of the orange peel which is used to flavor food and drink as well as an important ingredient for fragrance in perfumes and aromatherapy.  Orange blossoms can be dried and then used to make a delicious, aromatic tea.  Gardeners often use orange peels to repel slugs and other garden pests. 

Navel oranges are seedless, and the flesh inside is naturally very sweet and juicy, and its taste is very refreshing.  The blossom end of a navel orange looks like a human navel from the outside, which is how the fruit acquired its name.  When a neval orange is peeled, on the inside of the blossom end there is a partially formed, undeveloped conjoined “twin” fruit.  Although navel oranges are clones of a tree originally from Brazil, today they are a very important industry in the United States and grown primarily in Florida, Arizona and California.  Depending on your region of the country, fresh navel oranges are available from winter through late spring.  The kind of navel orange you should buy at the market is one that feels heavy for its size and has no soft spots, outward pitting or mold.

Health Benefits: The Fascinating History of Navel Oranges

Pictured: Oranges Preparing to Be Processed for Fresh Squeezed Florida Orange Juice

Pictured: Oranges Preparing to Be Processed for Fresh Squeezed Florida Orange Juice

Oranges are among the most popular fruits worldwide because of their unique, sweet and refreshing taste.  Also, because not only can they be found in great abundance and varieties, oranges have many important health benefits to the human body.  The navel orange, also known by its scientific term citrus sinensis, is one of the most popular of the orange tree varietals and also one of the most unique. 

Navel oranges are seedless, and once the peel is broken, the flesh inside is naturally very sweet and juicy.  From the outside, the blossom end of a navel orange looks like a human navel, which is how it acquired its name.  Inside, when a naval orange is broken or peeled, you can see a partially formed, undeveloped conjoined “twin” fruit on the blossom end. 

The antioxidant vitamin C is a main nutritional ingredient of navel oranges.  Millions of people drink orange juice from navel oranges daily as a source of vitamin C.  Vitamin C not only helps keep the human immune system strong, but it also helps the body absorb iron, works to heal wounds, and can even help prevent heart disease.  The human body does not naturally produce vitamin C on its own, so one of the best ways to get the right amount of this essential nutrient is to drink a fresh squeezed juice from a navel orange or to eat it right off the peel.

Other nutrients in navel oranges are also known to help to prevent cancer as well, such as stomach and esophagus cancer.  The high fiber content in navel oranges can help improve cholesterol ratios in the body, which is important in controlling diabetes. 

Beta-carotene is another antioxidant found in navel oranges which helps prevent cell damage.  Navel oranges also contain calcium, which promotes strong, healthy bones and vitamin B6 to boost production of hemoglobin in the bloodstream. The high potassium content in navel oranges helps maintain the balance of electrolytes in cells, and its magnesium helps keep blood pressure at an acceptable level.

But one of the most unique things about the naval orange is its history.  To this day, all navel oranges are clones which still originate from a tree in Brazil from almost 200 years ago.  This single tree propagated spontaneous clones and led to being grown in other regions. 

These mutations can only be cultivated through tree cuttings and being grafted onto other trees.  Producing navel oranges is considered a very big industry in the United States and economically important to California, Florida and Arizona where they are primarily grown.

Citrus Fruit Baskets: Traditional and Life-Affirming?

Easter Theme Citrus Gift Basket

Easter Theme Citrus Gift Basket

One of the healthiest and increasingly popular gifts to send during the holidays or some special event is a citrus fruit basket.  Citrus fruits are enjoyed by just about everybody, and they are an important food source which contain essential vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin C and many others.  In ancient times the fruits and flowers of citrus trees became renowned for their fragrance, which was used to perfume rooms, repel insects and sweeten breath.  Some believed that citrus fruits were remedies for poison or sickness.  Alexander the Great brought the first citrus fruits from India to his empire in Greece in 4th Century BCE, and later in 1493, Christopher Columbus introduced citrus fruits to the New World.  Florida and California are now the largest producers of the world’s finest fresh fruits which go into the best citrus fruit baskets.

The most common citrus fruits that go into a citrus fruit basket are traditional favorites that are generally available in the United States all year long, such as grapefruit, orange, clementine, tangerine, mandarin, lemon, lime, kumquat and pummelo.  Many gourmet citrus baskets also include pears, figs, apples or grapes as well as nuts, crackers and cheese to add a variety of taste as well as aroma and elegant decoration.  Occasionally other more exotic citrus fruits are included if they are seasonal and appropriate to the celebration or event.

You simply won’t go wrong when you send a citrus basket as a present.  Because the live fruits in a citrus basket are a celebration of life, they are most appropriate gifts to honor the birth of a baby, a wedding or anniversary, graduation or even a new job.  At the same time, the gift of a citrus fruit basket as condolence and sympathy in a time of grieving is more practical than sending flowers.  Sending a citrus basket to a mourner allows him or her to focus more on grieving for the departed loved one rather than having to cope with providing food and snacks for visitors paying respects.

The most traditional times of the year to send citrus fruit baskets are Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah when many people and businesses are expecting visitors and need to serve snacks that almost everyone will enjoy.  But a citrus fruit basket can also be enjoyed on more personal holidays like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.  The gift of a citrus fruit basket is smart, thoughtful, and money-savvy yet can lead to years of appreciation on your investment, whether you send it to a business or to your family.

A Citrus Fruit Basket to Delight Mom On Mother’s Day!

images1This Mother’s Day, why not give Mom a gift that she’ll really appreciate — like a beautiful citrus fruit basket filled with delicious, nutritious fresh fruits as well as other favorites like nuts, cheese, crackers or chocolates!

You can have a lot of fun putting together a customized citrus fruit basket yourself without too much investment of time and money, but Mom will still love that you did it just for her.  However, if you need something at last minute, you can find a wide range on the Internet of beautifully hand crafted and decorated citrus baskets filled with a variety of fine fruits along with other goodies for anywhere from US$20 to $100 with an easy search.

In fact, citrus fruit baskets make excellent gifts for almost any special occasion or event.  Because the live fruits in a citrus basket are so joyous and life-affirming, they are very appropriate gifts to celebrate the birth of a baby, a wedding or anniversary, graduation or new job.  At the same time, a citrus fruit basket is a thoughtful condolence and sympathy gesture in a time of grieving.  Traditionally, the most popular times to send citrus fruit baskets are Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah when many people and businesses are expecting visitors and need to serve snacks that almost everyone will enjoy.

The most common citrus fruits that go into a citrus fruit basket are traditional favorites that are generally available in the United States all year long, such as orange, clementine, lemon, lime, grapefruit, tangerine, mandarin, and kumquat.  Occasionally other more exotic citrus fruits are included if they are seasonal and appropriate to the event.  Many gourmet citrus baskets also include pears, figs, apples or grapes as well as nuts, crackers and cheese to add a variety of taste as well as aroma and elegant decoration.

Almost everyone loves citrus fruits, which also contain essential vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin C and many others, and are an important food source.  The history of citrus fruits goes back to ancient times when the fruits and flowers of citrus trees became renowned for their fragrance, which was used to perfume rooms, repel insects and sweeten breath.

With the gift of a citrus basket you just can’t go wrong.  The gift of a citrus fruit basket is smart, thoughtful, easy on the wallet but can lead to years of appreciation on your investment, whether you send it to a business, to your family - or even as a special present to yourself.  Whether you do it yourself or order it from a specialty company, what you may lack in dollars can be made up for in imagination.

Citrus Fruit Baskets Are a Great Way to Show Your Appreciation

Hale Groves of Florida -- Photo of Catalog Cover

Hale Groves of Florida -- Photo of Catalog Cover

The gift of a citrus fruit basket is not only an expression of love and caring but also the expression of life.  The history of citrus fruits goes back to ancient times when the fruits and flowers of citrus trees became renowned for their fragrance, which was used to perfume rooms, repel insects and sweeten breath.

Alexander the Great was believed to have brought the first citrus fruits from India to his empire in Greece in 4th Century BCE, and Christopher Columbus introduced citrus fruits to the New World in 1493.

It wasn’t until the late 19th Century that citrus fruits became known as important food sources containing essential vitamins, such as Vitamin C and many others.

Citrus fruit baskets make excellent gifts for almost any special occasion or event, such as the birth of a baby, wedding, anniversary, graduation, or as condolence and sympathy in a time of grieving.

Citrus baskets are especially appreciated during the holidays when many people and businesses are expecting visitors and need to serve snacks that almost everyone will enjoy.  Attractively decorated citrus baskets filled with a variety of delicious fine fruits along with other goodies can be found for anywhere from US$20 to $100 with an easy search on the Internet.

Among the most common citrus fruits that go into a citrus fruit basket are lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange, clementine, tangerine, mandarin, pummelo, kumquat, and occasionally other more exotic citrus fruits.  These ingredients are generally available in the United States all the time.  But many gourmet citrus baskets also include pears, figs, apples or grapes as well as nuts, crackers and cheese to add a variety of taste as well as aroma and an elegant look.  Almost everyone loves citrus fruits, so with the gift of a citrus basket it’s hard to go wrong.

The most popular times to send citrus fruit baskets are Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah because they are not only life-affirming but great for feeding guests who drop by.  But a citrus fruit basket can also be enjoyed on more personal holidays like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

Seeing a citrus fruit basket in the lunchroom on Secretary’s Day makes every office worker smile.  A sympathy gesture of a citrus basket to a mourner allows them to focus more on grieving rather than providing food and snacks for visitors paying respects.

The gift of a citrus fruit basket is thoughtful, smart and economic and can lead to years of return on your investment, whether you send it to a business or to a family.

A Citrus Fruit Basket Is a Great Gift for Any Special Event or Holiday

Fresh Citrus Gift Basket: Perfect for Any Occasion

Fresh Citrus Gift Basket: Perfect for Any Occasion

Sending a citrus fruit basket as a gift for almost any special occasion is a smart and economic investment and always appreciated by the recipients.

Whether it’s a holiday like Christmas or Hanukkah, a special event such as the birth of a baby, a graduation, a wedding anniversary or as condolence in a time of grievance, an attractively decorated citrus basket filled with a variety of delicious fine fruits along with other goodies really shows you care.  It’s easy to make a citrus fruit basket on your own, but if this is not an option, you can find the citrus basket gift you need on the Internet for anywhere from US$20 to $100 with an easy online search.

One of the great things about citrus fruit baskets is that the main ingredients are usually easily available in the United States all the time. The most common citrus fruits that go into a citrus fruit basket are grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, tangerine, clementine, mandarin, kumquat, pummelo and sometimes other more exotic citrus fruits. Most gourmet citrus baskets also include apples, pears, figs and grapes to add a variety of taste, as well as aroma and an elegant look. Nuts, crackers and cheeses can also be added (as appropriate to the occasion) to make the citrus fruit basket even more inviting.

Citrus fruits have an interesting history that go far back to ancient times. Before the fruits became known as important food staples containing essential vitamins, such as Vitamin C and numerous others, the fragrance of citrus trees, including their fruits and flowers, perfumed rooms, were thought to repel insects, believed to be remedies for poisons and to sweeten breath. Historians claim that Alexander the Great brought the first citrus trees and shrubs to Greece from India in 4th Century BCE. Citrus fruits are shown in many ancient art works, such as relics of the early Christian tile mosaics in the churches of the Emperor Constantine in Istanbul, Turkey. Christopher Columbus is credited with bringing citrus fruits to the New World in 1493.

Almost everyone loves citrus fruits. A citrus fruit basket is a celebration of life, and the gift of a citrus fruit basket is an expression of love and caring. It’s also a very useful gift, especially in a time of mourning when the recipient can focus more on grieving rather than providing food and snacks for guests. In fact, a citrus fruit basket is hit in any party situation or gathering — so why not send one to yourself, whether your party is for 100 people or only two!