Have you ever heard a sailor being referred to as a “limey” in the movies or on television? Did you ever stop to think about what that name might mean and where in the world it came from? The term actually comes from a delicious citrus fruit commonly known as the lime. In earlier times, sailors would chow down on limes to help prevent scurvy, which is caused by a lack of Vitamin C in the diet and in the body. By using citrus fruits such as limes to prevent this disease, the sailors became known as “limeys”. Would you…
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The orange crop in Florida plays a huge role in the financial well being of the state and its citizens. But one wonders how many Floridians know the basic facts about this fabulous fruit that brings them fame and fortune. Most accounts say that Florida owes its orange growing tradition to the Spanish. Well actually the first guy was an Italian sailing for the Queen of Spain and his name was Columbus. Christopher delivered a few seeds when he landed at Hispaniola which today we call Haiti and the Dominican Republic. About a eighty years later in 1565, the Spanish…
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If you have trouble getting everyone in your household to eat healthy Valencia oranges can help you convince your family that eating healthy can taste great too. Juicy Valencia oranges are in season from last spring through summer and the sweet and rich taste will make everyone in your family happy, even kids who love sweets like candy or ice cream. Like other types of oranges and most other citrus fruits Valencia oranges are low in calorie, with about 80 calories per fruit. So anyone in the household who is trying to watch their weight can enjoy Valencia oranges as…
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What we call the Satsuma tangerine has been around for over 700 years. Anything that is still being cultivated after that many years just has to have a real appeal to human taste right? And it’s not just Americans who enjoy one of the tangerine’s earliest varieties. Not by a long shot. These golden fruit like a cool subtropical environment and it probably comes as no surprise that Southern Japan is the largest grower of this fruit. However the Satsuma is a favorite in China and Korea as well. Other countries that produce this gem include Russia along the Black…
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Exotic Citrus Fruit Varieties: Honeybells The crossing of one fruit variety with another is quite common in the citrus world. In fact, it is the reason we have the grapefruit, the orange, the lemon, and the tangerine. Hybridization was also used to create the tangelo, a cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit or pomelo. Although not nearly as popular as any of the aforementioned citrus fruits, the tangelo or Honeybell is considered by many to be the finest eating “orange” in the world. No, it’s not technically an orange, but Honeybells are closely related on both an aesthetic and…
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The Florida orange is the most important crop in the entire state and actually has a huge impact on the country’s produce economy as well. Oranges are the most popular of the five most popular fruits consumed in America and Florida is the top producer. If the Florida crop suffers because of frost or hurricane, the price of orange juice jumps dramatically. Ninety percent of Florida’s oranges go into juice production. Most of the raw oranges that you find in the grocery store come from California or to a lesser extent Central America. Florida’s oranges, even their version of the…
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We all know that Florida oranges are supposed to be good for us. They’re part of those daily fruit and vegetable servings we need to be gobbling up every day. But do you know exactly what a Florida orange is packed with when it comes to our daily essentials of vitamins and minerals? The short answer is plenty! Vitamin C When it comes eating any kind of citrus fruits, you’ll be getting a heaping portion of Vitamin C which is also referred to by the fancy scientific name of ascorbic acid. The good news is that a single Florida orange…
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Buying fruit baskets for yourself is an affordable treat that you can do all year long. Buying beautiful fruit baskets full of seasonal oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and other fruits will give you lots of healthy and nutritious fruit to eat and will also make you feel great. Self care experts stress that people should give themselves small luxuries to help manage stress and promote relaxation. Buying fruit baskets is an easy way to revive your spirit and your body. The bright colors and cheerful arrangements will give you an emotional pick me up while the healthy oranges and other citrus…
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If you’re looking for a secret ingredient you can use to make your holiday dishes and treats so delicious that everyone will beg to know what you used in them you need to get some Honeybells. Honeybells are a unique fruit that is only available during the time from Christmas through the end of January. Early Honeybells are shipped right around Christmas and are the perfect ingredient for your holiday cooking. Honeybells are bright orange and have an unusual bell shape, which is where the name comes from. They are low calorie and versatile just like oranges and tangerines but…
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Continue ReadingTraditionally served during the holidays or at weddings, fruitcakes have a rich and storied history. As the name implies, fruitcakes are known for their heavy content of dried fruits. Most fruitcakes also include nuts and spices, and all fruitcakes require special handling and baking. What’s the Story with Fruitcake? It’s been a holiday staple for generations, but where exactly did fruitcake originate? And how did fruit cake come to be associated with celebrations? Fruitcake has been around for a long time. There is some disagreement on the true origins of fruitcake…culinary lore indicates that the ancient Egyptians would place a…