Spanish explorers brought the orange to America in the early 16th century. Legend has it Ponce del Leon himself planted the first citrus trees in Florida as he searched for the Fountain of Youth. Oranges, lemons and later grapefruit were planted by farmers in port cities like St. Augustine and Tampa Bay. But only the orange became popular with local populations. Citrus groves were a fairly common site in Florida by the 19th century, but shipping costs were prohibitive. Farmers had to load Florida oranges in crates and send them north on horse-drawn wagons. If the shipments were being sent…
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Use a basket of fruit to help keep your diet on track no matter how busy your schedule is. Eating right is a huge challenge for millions of people today, but not because they don’t know how to eat healthy. Most of the time people end up eating junk food because they are too busy to cook healthy meals or grab healthy snacks. Or, they think they are. It’s true that for many professionals and for parents who spend hours every day commuting to and from work, driving kids to and from school and lessons and sports and shopping for…
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The exotic, beautifully sweet and seedless hybrid orange commonly called the Clementine has a long–at times even controversial–history. The Early Beginnings of A Rare Citrus Fruit Sometimes good things come from happy accidents. The Clementine orange, a hybrid of the Mandarin and sweet orange varieties, was created more than 100 years ago in the sun-drenched African nation of Algeria. At the time a French colony, the French cleric Clement Rodier bred them in his church garden, first crossing the parent seeds by accident. Today his first name is the basis for its name in the United States. The Clementine orange’s…
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Honeybells are one of the most anticipated treats of the holiday season. People wait all year long to taste the sweet taste of a Honeybell when they come into season in late December. Honeybells are the perfect holiday fruit because they are sweet and delicious, but also healthy. The festive bell shape of the fruit makes everyone think about the holidays. Using Honeybells to stuff stockings, or giving Honeybell gift baskets and boxes is a great way to let your loved ones know how much you care about them. Just like decorated sugar cookies or fruit cake Honeybells are a…
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Navel oranges are not only good to eat, but also the peel makes a colorful and attractive garnish as well. Most people tend to use parsley sprigs to garnish meat and other dishes, but you can use navel orange peeling as well. In order to add some additional color to your dishes, you can use a combination of navel orange peel and parsley. In addition you can use food coloring to dress up the garnishes you use based on the season of the year. For instance, you can use a combination of red, white and blue for Independence Day. While…
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One of the fastest-growing states in America, Florida is famous for three things: theme parks, retirees, and citrus. The first two came to the Sunshine State relatively recently, while the third has been around for more than five centuries. In this brief article, we will tell the fascinating story of Florida citrus and how it helped our 27th state enter the modern era. Early history When Spanish explorers arrived on Florida’s shores during the early 16th century, the territory was inhabited by numerous native American tribes. According to legend, it was Ponce de Leon who planted the first oranges and…
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Temple oranges are one of the most popular seasonal fruits that you can get, but you can only get them for a limited time each year. Temple oranges are in season for just a few weeks in the late winter, which makes them the perfect winter treat. Temple oranges are healthy but also sweet and delicious so that you can enjoy them without feeling guilty or worrying that you might have ruined your diet. People of all ages love Temple oranges, and they are great for kids to snack on because they are medium sized and easy for small hands…
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You can stay trim and eat sweets if you are eating Temple oranges and other citrus fruits. Oranges like Temple oranges are rich and have a sweet and tangy flavor that will satisfy even the strongest sugar cravings but Temple oranges and citrus fruits are low in calories so you won’t put on weight. Even if you are eating two or more Temple oranges and other citrus fruits everyday you won’t gain weight. That’s because Temple oranges, tangerines, navel oranges, and grapefruits are all low in calories and full of nutrients that your body needs. Eating citrus fruit is healthy…
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Fruit lovers are a dedicated lot. When they find a fruit they are fond of they will go to great lengths to get their hands. Few fruits have a more loyal following than the Honeybell Orange. What’s so special about it? To begin with, it is one of the rarest fruits grown in the US. This is not due to a lack of demand. If orchards owners could plant expansive groves of Honeybells they would. The price of the seldom seen tangelo has never been higher, since demand always outpaces supply. Unfortunately, the Honeybell orange is an extremely sensitive fruit.…
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Getting a little tired of oranges are we? Do you feel that if you have one more glass of the “liquid sunshine” called OJ that you’ll have to switch to vodka? Have oranges just become too much work to eat? Do give up on the citrus, just try something that might be a little more to your liking. Buy a bunch of tangerines and see if that doesn’t make a difference. Yes tangerines are kind of cousins of the orange as they descend from the Mandarin but they can be a whole lot better tasting and without question they are…