All posts in Fruit Facts

Are clementines tangerines? Are tangerines oranges? With over 160 varieties and hybrids of mandarins, it’s no wonder people get confused. In fact, the terms mandarin and tangerine are used interchangeably throughout the USA, even though they’re not the same. Tangerines and clementines aren’t the same fruit, either, but they are practically first cousins – they are both hybrids of the small-sized mandarin. What Exactly is a Mandarin? The mandarin is one of the original citrus species (along with the citron and pomelo) that, through breeding or natural hybridization, serves as the ancestor of many hybrid citrus cultivars. Mandarins botanically refer…

What are Honeybells? Also known as the honeybell tangelo, the honeybell orange is a tangerine/grapefruit hybrid that combines the sweet and sour taste of both fruits. They??e very juicy, with a loose, easy-to-peel skin that makes them easier to eat than other oranges. You can easily recognize honeybell oranges by their stem-end neck, which gives them the bell shape from which they take their name. Florida honeybells are bright red-orange in color when fully mature. What are Sugar Belles? Developed in the 1980s by University of Florida researchers hoping to create a citrus variety resistant to greening disease, sugar belle…

There they are among the citrus fruits in the produce section??hey??e small, round, orange, and fragrant. They??e tangerines! Wait…they??e mandarins. Which are they?! Just what is the difference between a tangerine and a mandarin? Tangerine vs. Mandarin Technically, a tangerine orange is a mandarin orange. But while all tangerines are mandarins, not all mandarins are tangerines. The mandarin is one of the original citrus species that, through breeding or natural hybridization, serves as the ancestor of many hybrid citrus cultivars. Mandarins botanically refer to three classifications of oranges: satsumas, tangerines and miscellaneous hybrids. So technically, a tangerine is a mandarin…

How Sweet It Is! Sugar Belles Are Taking the Citrus World by Storm What is a sugar belle orange, you ask? Only one of the sweetest little citrus fruits available! But if you thought “Sugar Belle” was just the name of a My Little Pony™ unicorn (those with kids might be familiar with the song, “The Battle for Sugar Belle”), we’ll give you a pass since the only place to shop sugar belles is online – they’re not available in most grocery stores. (Which is a shame, because sugar belle fruit is wonderful!) What are sugar belles? Not to be…

A Truly “Snackable” Snack: Sweet, Seedless Sugar Belles! Look out, lunchbox fruit…there’s a new orange in town! Sugar belle oranges are taking on-the-go lunch world by storm, and no wonder – they’re not only delicious, they’re perfect for taking along with you! What is a sugar belle orange? What area sugar belles? The first answer that comes to mind is, “delicious!” But if you need a little more information, sugar belle oranges are one of the sweetest citrus fruits on the market. eveloped by University of Florida researchers looking to product a citrus fruit that was resistant to the dreaded exotic…

Oranges aren’t indigenous to the Sunshine State…but they should have been! Which fruit defines Florida? We’ll give you a hint: it’s the state fruit, its flower is the state flower, and its juice is the Sunshine State’s official beverage. If you guessed the orange, you are correct! Oranges originated in Southeast Asia; the first orange trees were brought to Florida in the mid-1500s. Florida’s subtropical climate and unique, sandy soil proved to be the ideal growing environment for the juicy citrus fruit, and today the state the second largest producer of orange juice in the world, and a multi-billion dollar…

The Pros (and Cons) of the Citrus Super Food Do you often take note of grapefruit for sale online or at your grocery store? If grapefruit isn’t a regular part of your diet, it may seem at first like the orange’s larger, tarter cousin, mainstay of dieters everywhere. But don’t dismiss this citrus super food out of hand…apart from being listed among Health.com’s 20 best foods to eat for breakfast, a sweet grapefruit can add a crisp, refreshing grapefruit taste to many recipes (such as salsa and fish). And the fact that fresh grapefruit can add a lot of nutrition…

As summer continues, many people find themselves craving sweet juicy mangoes. Some just can’t resist buying this King of Fruits in the nearest grocery store. Some Mango lovers even order them online or sign up for a regular supply of mango gift baskets. But many of us must be cautious when it comes to diet. For those who may be diabetic this can be a serious concern leading to the question of whether or not mangos are okay to eat. Diabetes is a lifetime health condition wherein a person’s blood sugar level becomes too high.  There are 2 main types…