Specialty Citrus Reaching Peak for Sunkist

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Specialty citrus reaching peak for Sunkist

January 23, 2015

With the California winter in progress, many specialty citrus varieties, including pummelos, Cara Cara Navels and Minneolas, are in peak season.

“We’re in peak Sunkist citrus season and this year’s crop is tasting delicious,” said Joan Wickham, manager of advertising and public relations for Sunkist Growers Inc. in Sherman Oaks,

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CA. Sunkist's California W. Murcott mandarins will be available February through April. “This time of year is particularly special because many unique varieties are available, though only for a limited time. As consumers are becoming more adventurous with food, these seasonal specialties are increasing in popularity.”

The specialty citrus includes several different oranges as well as a number of other varieties. Each is available in this winter-to-spring timeframe, and Sunkist produces a wide array of materials for retailers to educate consumers about these unique varieties. The point-of-sale materials include nutritional information, recipes and usage tips.

Some of these specialty varieties include:

Moro orange Also known as blood oranges, the Moro orange has a deep maroon interior and an orange or orange- red blushed exterior. It offers a distinct rich orange taste with hints of berry. Available December through mid-April, it is an easy-to-peel fruit that is great for snacking.

Cara Cara Navel orange This unique variety looks like a Navel orange on the outside, but the seedless interior has a rich pink hue from the natural presence of Lycopene. Available December through May, these extremely sweet Navels are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, and a good source of fiber, earning them the nickname “The Power Orange.”

Pummelo The largest of all citrus fruit, pummelos have a thick, dark green peel that fades to yellow as the season progresses. Less acidic than traditional grapefruit, they have a zesty, tropical scent with a sweet tangy flavor. It is available mid-October through mid-May, and is noted for its high content of vitamin C.

Sweetie (Oro Blanco) This specialty variety is a cross between a white grapefruit and a pummelo, and is available mid-

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October through mid-March. Pummelos have a bright green exterior that fades to a golden yellow as the season progresses. They are generally round to flat-round with a thicker rind than a traditional grapefruit. Sweeties are sweeter than traditional grapefruit, and an excellent source of vitamin C.

Minneola tangelo Minneola tangelos are easily identified by their distinctive knob-like formation at the stem. A cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine, juicy Minneolas are larger than most Mandarins with a deep red-orange exterior and a bold, tangy flavor. They are available from mid-December through April.

Sunkist Smiles This variety is seedless and easy to peel. Sunkist Smiles Clementines and California Mandarins are flat-round, with a deep orange, smooth glossy skin. They are sweet, juicy and make an excellent treat for lunches, snacks and recipes. It is a great promotional item for kid lunches. Clementines are available mid-November through January while California W. Murcott mandarins are available February through April.