Top Ten Oranges

​Oranges come from small flowering trees with dark green leaves that are originally thought to have come from Southeast Asia and then spread to the rest of the world. The orange fruit itself is actually a type of a berry, and its flavors can vary from sweet to sour. The first orange trees in the United States were planted in the mid-1800s and today the fruit is cultivated worldwide in warm, sub-tropical climates where the temperatures range between 60°F - 85°F. In addition to being absolutely delicious, oranges are a very healthy food and are an important source of Vitamin C. Thanks to its worldwide abundance, orange juice is now the most popular fruit juice in the world, and the orange fruit ranks 4th in terms of overall fruit popularity.
 
Oranges are full of nutritional value and in addition to being eaten fresh or squeezed for juice, oranges are also used in a wide variety of other recipes, mainly desserts and salads. There are actually over 600 individual different types of oranges growing around the world today, a few are almost wild while most are carefully cultivated. When it comes to cash crops however, there are only ten types of commercial oranges that are by far the most popular and profitable types in the world today.
 
1. Valencia Oranges
Valencia oranges are best known as the orange juice oranges, but they are also great to eat too. Valencia oranges have thin skins, a few seeds, and are very juicy. The Valencia’s were named after the Spanish city of Valencia when they were first introduced in California, and they remain an important citrus crop in that state today.
 
2. Mandarin Oranges
Mandarin oranges are actually a type of tangerine variety that is small, mild and sweet. They have a long growing season from January into May and are mainly sold in jars or cans today, although fresh mandarins are catching on.
 
3. Navel Oranges
Navel oranges are the most common variety of oranges in the U.S. and are sweet and seedless. Navels have thick skins and a characteristic dimple on one end that resembles a human navel. Navel oranges are a seedless variety that is propagated through the use of cuttings.
 
4. Blood Oranges
Blood oranges have deep red color on the inside and may have a bit of red on their skins too. Blood oranges came form Italy and are now grown mainly in California and are not always widely available in the rest of North America. The Blood orange is found in several varieties that are all small, sweet, and often used as fruit to show off their color.
 
5 Satsuma Oranges
Satsuma oranges are actually a variety of small mandarin oranges that are seedless and easy to peel. Satsumas are a cold-hardy variety of citrus that grow from around the Gulf Coast in the U.S. to California. Satsumas are in season from November through January.
 
6. Seville Oranges
Seville oranges are sour oranges well-suited for making marmalade and are also used in cooking, cocktails and salad dressings. Seville oranges are small and have a short season starting in December and ending at the start of February.
 
7. Clementine Oranges
Clementine oranges are small oranges and sweet in flavor. They are seedless and perfect for snacks or used in fruit displays. Clementines have a short November to January growing season.
 
8. Hamlin Oranges
Hamlins are sweet, cold tolerant orange variety that is mainly grown in Florida today. Hamlins have a thin rind and are seedless and very juicy, making them a good juicing orange.
 
9. Pineapple Oranges
Pineapple oranges are a seeded, sweet variety that is an excellent orange, but not cultivated widely due to its susceptibility to diseases and pre-harvest fruit drop. The variety got its name from the peel’s tendency to crease with pineapple-like “pits.”
 
10. Jaffa Oranges
Jaffa oranges are a thick skinned variety that is sweet and juicy and contains very few seeds. The variety was named due to its origin in Jaffa, Israel and is not cultivated widely outside of that country today.