Now Arriving at Grocery Stores Nationwide,
This Year's Navel Orange Crop Is Sweeter Than Ever
SHERMAN OAKS, Calif., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The signature warmth of the
year-round California sun often makes it hard to decipher one season from
another. However, there is one time of year in the Golden State that is
unmistakable, the start of the navel orange season. California's ideal
growing conditions -- warm days, cool nights and rich soil that is unique to
the West Coast-provide sensational bushels of juicy navel oranges every
winter, sparking a distinctive time of celebration.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060117/LATU001 )
This season in particular, California navel oranges will be tastier than
ever, as a beneficial delay in the Central Valley harvest has boosted the
fruit's sweetness. "The oranges were slower to acquire the rich color
associated with our fruits this year, so we picked them a few weeks later than
normal," noted grower and CEO of the California Citrus Growers Association,
Mike George. "By allowing the oranges extra time to mature on the trees, the
fruit took on a sweeter taste that families are already enjoying."
California's pleasant climate is only half of the equation for this year's
sweet crop. Growers, some with generations of experience, carefully tend to
the crops to ensure vibrant colors and a juicy, robust flavor. Growing is a
family tradition, steeped in a heritage as rich as the California soil for
some growers. The sweetness and premium quality of the navel orange crop this
year is evidence of the hard work and care put forth by the California growers
during the off-season.
Chef Jill Davie, of Josie in Santa Monica, CA notes, "Oranges have such a
unique versatility, this is a great time of the year for experimentation with
sweet and savory pairings, creating fresh citrus marinades and brightening up
a plate with the intense flavors and rousing colors of navel oranges." Visit
your favorite cooking website for exciting recipes featuring fresh California
citrus. Readers can find some of Jill Davie's favorite citrus recipes at
http://www.sunkist.com.
Always a family favorite because of their invigorating taste and natural
portability, navel oranges are a tantalizing and nutritious snack or the
ideal, refreshing accompaniment to any meal. Perfect in salads, sauces and
beverages, oranges also offer numerous health benefits. Another good reason
to devour oranges this season, one medium size navel orange contains as much
fiber as seven cups of corn flakes, 130 percent of the recommended daily value
(RDV) of Vitamin C and is a good source of other vitamins and minerals that
bolster the immune system and contribute to overall better health.
Media Contact:
Courtney Carlisle/Emily Ingle
Manning Selvage & Lee
323-866-6063
courtney.carlisle@mslpr.com
emily.ingle@mslpr.com
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