It is hard to believe that the Cara Cara orange has only been around since the late 1980’s. Even with its fast introduction, this ultra-modern fruit selection would not impact the market until the late 1990’s. With the rise of health-conscious consumers, the Cara Cara’s market rose with the popularity of foods high in antioxidants and those desiring healthier eating. As with all red pigmented fruits, the Cara Cara is considered very healthy due to its high concentration of Lycopene, a well know carotenoid, in the family of Beta Carotene. It is high in fiber like all oranges, high in vitamin C, which make this fruit a must for the modern-day health conscious food shopper. The flavor is very complex almost berrylike with a sub-acid finish. Being seedless adds to the many qualities of the Cara Cara. Finally, being one of the first of the oranges to market each season makes it a great choice for the commercial grower

Ripens November to February

The Clementine de Nules is considered one of the sweetest of the Clementines. This selection is also known as Clemenules, Nulesina, Clementina Reina, Clementina Victoria, and Reina y Gorda de Nules. A mutation of Fina found in Nules Castellon de Plana in 1953, it is larger and earlier than the Fina. This selection is seedless when grown away from other citrus. Because it ripens well on the tree, the harvest can take place over an extended period of time. The Clementine de Nules matures in October and maintains it high quality through December. The fruit does separate from the skin when held too long. A very popular variety in the bagged mandarin market for many years and one of the most popular early season home garden selections. This is the most widely grown Clementine in Spain.

Ripens October–December

The Fukumoto Orange was brought to California from Japan in 1983. This early ripening navel orange, has both great color with its deep reddish rind and outstanding flavor, for an early maturing orange. Harvest begins as early as mid-October in California. The Fukumoto is smaller than most navel orange trees with medium vigor.

Ripens Mid October

The Gold Nugget Mandarin is easy to peel and has a rich sweet flavor with a long hang time making it one the most desirable varieties of mandarins. The fruit is seedless, medium to large size and slightly flattened. The skins texture is bumpy almost nugget like with a bright light orange color. This late season citrus typically ripens in mid-February and stays ready for harvest through May, typically with a very heavy crop. In less idea citrus locations, such as zone 9a, Gold Nugget can be alternate bearing. But regular pruning can help to reduce from occurring.

Ripens February to June

The demand for navel oranges year-round in the United States drove the Australian export market for many years. Not just the fact that their winters were our summers but also the interesting late season varieties that were being introduced from Australia. One such imported orange was the Lane Late. The Lane Late is a sport of the Washington Navel Orange that was discovered in Australia around 1950. A bud sport the fruit was almost identical to the Parent Washington but for a few distinguishing traits such as the ripening time was 6 to 8 weeks later that the Parent Washington, the fruit was much larger, and the skin was smooth. Making the Lane Late easy to identify. Excellent flavor and a long hang time make this variety a great choice for both commercial and retail.

Ripens January to April

The Lisbon Lemon is one of the most popular of the true Lemons grown commercially in California. The fruit is very similar to the Eureka but there are some very notable differences. The Lisbon is more resistant to cold, heat, and wind than the Eureka. The fruit is smoother with fewer ribs than Eureka. The Lisbon is more suited to coastal climates than most other lemons. The Lisbon Lemon tree is a large upright, spreading tree with thorny densely foliated limbs. The tree produces ample amounts of fruits that are typically set inside the canopy. The main crop comes in winter and early spring, The variety remains popular due to its vigor, productivity, and wide range of adaptation.

Ripens March to May

The Meyer Lemon is sometimes called the perfect lemon tree. Brought to the United States in 1908, it is believed to be a Lemon x Orange Hybrid through natural selection. The Meyer has become the favorite home garden citrus planted. It is very much a lemon when yellow but turns orange when fully ripe. When fully ripe it is sweeter with much less acid. The flesh, juice and rind are all highly prized by chefs. The #1 citrus planted in the world! Tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions, naturally dwarf, very cold hardy and producing outstanding fruit. It is no wonder it is considered the perfect Citrus.

Ripens October to February

The Minneola Tangelo is a cross between white grapefruit and a sweet tangerine. The Minneola is also called honey bell, with beautiful orange-red fruit is a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavor. A winter ripening variety harvest begins in January and continues through March. The minneola is classically identified by its pronounced tall neck. The fruit has a juicy rich citrus flavor with just a hint of grapefruit It is easy to peel and has a dependable large crop. For the largest yield include a pollinator such as a Clementine mandarin.

Ripens March to June

First discovered as a mutation of the Sanguinelli Blood orange in Sicily, Italy in the Mid-20th Century the Moro is one of the newest Blood Oranges varieties. First thought to be not as favorable as Sanguinello and Torroco, the dependable dark red colored flesh and wonderful flavor made it an immediate hit. Today it is the most popular of the commercially grown Blood oranges. Citrus sinensis ‘Moro’, originated in Sicily, Italy and is considered an Italian Blood orange, while, the Sanguinello and Torroco are both varieties from Spain. The name Moro comes from the Moorish culture which in the 8th century dominated the Mediterranean region. Being a much earlier ripening variety than the Sanguinello or Torroco helped the Moro become an immediate success in California. Moro ripens in January putting it at least a month sooner than other varieties. Though found to not always get the deep rich red coloring it would in ideal conditions, the Moro unlike the other two popular selections would get a decent red color and develop its great flavor in less than ideal conditions.

Ripens January to February

The Page Mandarin was first introduced in 1963 as an orange. The fact is Page is a complex hybrid with Orange, Mandarin, Tangelo and Grapefruit in its parentage which was unknown at the time. When the first cross was made in 1942 by Gardener and Bellows of the USDA in Orlando Florida, they crossed a Clementine Mandarin with a Minneola Tangelo. The Minneola Tangelo is a cross between a Duncan Grapefruit and a Dancy Mandarin. Meaning the Page has a 25% grapefruit in its lineage more recent genetic research suggests that the Clementine Mandarin is in fact a cross between the Mediterranean mandarin and an unknown Sweet Orange variety making the Page Mandarin 25% Orange. This fact was unknown to P.C. Reece and F.E. Gardener when they released the Page in 1963 as an orange. Its early ripening and long hang time along with the small to medium size make it easy to enjoy. The tree is moderately vigorous with an upright spreading habit. The fruit is deep orange, with a rich flavor unique to the Page mandarin. Few seeds are found in this very special piece of fruit.

Ripens January to March

Since the introduction of the Parent Washington Navel in the 1870’s, it has become the most popular orange grown in the United States. The Washington Navel Orange is deliciously sweet with just the right amount of juice making it the perfect fresh eating orange. Unlike the later ripening Valencia Orange that is well known for its juice, the Washington Navel is a large meaty piece of fruit that peels easily and readily separates into tasty sections. This seedless orange matures early each winter making it one of the first fruits ready for the harvest each year. Only a few varieties of oranges, like the pink fleshed Cara Cara, ripen earlier. Washington Navel Orange Trees are high producers, putting out large crops of orange-fleshed seedless fruits that can be left on the tree for up to three months without sacrificing their quality or integrity. The Washington Navel Orange Tree is a medium-sized tree.

Ripens January to March

The Rio Red Grapefruits of Texas are the leading citrus grown producing medium to large fruit. In 1993, Texas named its official state fruit the Red Grapefruit. The reds are climate proven in Texas and the Rio Red is the best. Rio Red is a mid to late season ripening variety with a pink blushed orange rind. The flesh is juicy and great color.

Ripens January to March

The Sanguinelli Blood Orange is a unique orange originating from Spain. The fruit has the most color of all blood oranges, with flesh that is almost purple and juice that is deep red and tart. The peel is smooth and thin with a red blush. It is considered a gourmet citrus with fruit that has a distinctive sweet and spicy flavor. The fruit can be elongated because of the high juice content. The tree is small and productive with light green leaves. The Sanguinelli Blood Orange is a “Sweet Orange” cultivar that produces medium sized oranges with few seeds. Ripening in late fall and early winter.

Ripens December to February

The darkest pink flesh of all grapefruit varieties. Produces red blushed over yellow skinned fruit. Requires warn winter climates and attention to nutrient deficiencies. The flesh is very dark with a high juice content and few to no seeds. Winter to late spring ripening with the fruit holding well on the tree with some color loss as it matures

(PP#17,863), Tango was introduced in 2008 and became a popular commercial mandarin selection. Tango has a deep orange colored skin, oval shaped, and very productive. These are all qualities that a commercial growers is looking for and it tastes great too. The Tango is a midseason, large, seedless, juicy, deep orange flesh and easy to peel mandarin. To ensure the best fruit production, it is best to harvest the fruit just before the flowering is in full swing. Excellent production with a great hang time of up to 3 months. Fruit matures from February to April. You can have white fragrant flowers and round orange fruit at the same time. This vigorously growing tree with leathery, dark green leaves can be pruned to any size.

Ripens January to March

The Valencia orange traces its roots to the beginning of citrus grown in the United States. Even with the late 1800’s challenge by the Navel Orange, the Valencia has proven to be the select orange for juicing which remains the most important usages of Citrus today. Valencia is a late season ripening fruit, ready in the mid to late summer. Ripening color varies with where it is grown with some fruit remaining somewhat green and still be ripe.

Ripens July to September