oranges

Oranges are citrus fruits native to the Southeast of Asia. They are a hybrid cultivated in ancient farms by crossing citrus Maxima, pomelo and citrus Reticulata, tangerine.  Oranges belong to the genus citrus,  their  fruits are considered berries because they have many seeds, are fleshy, soft and derive from a single ovary. The fruit has a round shape, in tropical areas their color is green to green yellow, when they are orange it is due to cold temperatures where they grow.

Oranges are consumed raw, also in juice form. The rind is used to flavor foods or as garnish.  

Nutritional Value

Oranges are a source of  vitamins A, B and C, also minerals, calcium, potassium, phosphorous as well as copper, iron, magnesium, sulfur.

• Oranges are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber.
• They are rich in vitamin C 
• They are rich in  Calcium, associated with the protection and maintenance of  bones.
• The flavonoids oranges contain, keep the blood pressure under check
• They contain folic acid which helps proper brain development.
• An excellent source of potassium, they help maintain the electrolyte   balance in the cells.
• Oranges have vitamin B6, which helps with the hemoglobin levels in the blood.
• Liminoid, a compound found in oranges, helps fight some types of cancer.
• Oranges contain more than 170 phytonutrients and more than 60 flavonoids which have antioxidant, anti inflammatory anti tumor and blood clot inhibition properties.
• Oranges are a detoxifying fruit.

Types of  oranges

There are more than 600 types of oranges, the most common are: Valencia, Blood oranges, Navel, Seville, Persian, Hamlin, Temple, Jaffa, etc.

Valencia

Valencia oranges or Murcia are very sweet and used for juice extraction. They were first hybridized in California. They originated from the city of Valencia, Spain. The hybrid  was sold to Irvine Ranch owners, they planted half of their land with oranges and their success in Southern California led to naming that area Orange County. The company was bought by Sunkist and   they moved to Florida and  Brazil. 

Navel

They first appeared as a single mutation in 1820 in an orchard of sweet oranges planted in a monastery in Brazil. This     mutation caused the oranges to develop a second orange at the base of the fruit, opposite to the stem, like a conjoined twin embedded within the peel  of the large orange. From the outside looks like a human navel, thus their name.  

The mutation left the fruit seedless and therefore sterile, the only way to cultivate it was to graft cuttings from the original tree. They were transported to California in 1870. They  are still produced from cuttings, meaning they have the same genetic makeup as the first.

Blood Oranges   

They were discovered and  cultivated in the 15th century in Sicily. They derived from abnormal pigmentation that gives the pulp that streaked red color.