Citrus Science

The University of Florida is home to a World Class citrus research and education center. Florida citrus growers grow, produce and market the largest quantity of citrus based products in the World. The center focus's research efforts on pests, disease and weather related issues citrus growers have to contend with.

The Center is of vital importance to Florida's citrus growers. Central and Southern Florida's citrus region has been a major source of income for the last 100 years. The Citrus center was founded in 1917 right around the same time that citrus groves were being planted. It holds the Worlds largest citrus library, it has a pilot processing plant and a grove.

The researchers at the center famously developed the technique for making frozen orange juice to allow it to be shipped around the globe. The latest development is the flash pasteurized fruit juice allowing people to enjoy the taste of freshly squeezed juice.

Florida remains at the cutting edge of citrus growing and processing methods to deliver first class fruit to you.

Source:

1. http://www.newschief.com/article/20100509/NEWS/5095077/-1/news02?Title=Science-of-citrus-Lake-Alfred-center-stays-at-the-forefront-of-international-citrus-research

Chocolate Orange Cake

The following Recipe comes from Chow and Chatter its a wonderful citrus infused chocolate cake and fun to garnish with our fresh oranges. It will be a hit with your loved ones when they come over for tea and cake!

Ingredients:

4 oz of self raising flour
4 oz of butter
2 small eggs
4 oz of sugar
2 tablespoon of cocoa
a little powdered sugar

1/2 cup of fresh orange juice

Method:

1. cream the butter and sugar add the eggs
2. then mix in the flour, cocoa and orange juice little by little
3. bake in the oven at 350 for 25 minutes

4. dust with the powdered sugar and garnish with fresh orange slices

Orange-Ginger Mignonette

The following fantastic Orange infused Oyster dressing comes from Chez What;

A mignonette is typically a vinegar sauce served with oysters or clams, many will argue that an oyster needs nothing at all and I am often inclined to agree with that but once you taste this sauce you will want it on all of your seafood.

Orange-Ginger Mignonette

• 3/4 c Fresh orange juice
• 1 c rice wine vinegar
• 2 tb Minced ginger
• 1 tb Minced garlic
• 1/4 tp minced thai red chile (the hotter the better)
• 1 tb Agave syrup
• 1/2 c Minced green onion
• 1 tb orange zest
• Salt; to taste
• Freshly-ground black pepper;

Mix all ingredients together and let it sit for 30 minutes for the flavors meld.

Spoon over freshly shucked raw oysters or even your favorite poached, fried or broiled fish. We had this sweet, tangy, spicy deliciousness on oysters and whole fried fish.

Grapefruit Spoons!

Grapefruits have been enjoyed throughout the ages but have never been easy to eat with the juice squirting out!, in the 1930's these inventions were featured in Modern Mechanix Magazine

Grapefruit spoons with serrated edges have been around since the early 1900's when silver spoons were often given by growers. I remember getting my first spoon and marveling at the invention so simple and yet so useful.

Have you got a spoon?

Tangerine Frozen Yogurt

The following refreshing recipe comes from Mimi's kitchen:

Its a simple citrus infused frozen yogurt using an ice cream maker -

Tangerine Frozen Yogurt

1 1/2 cup Tangerine juice

1 cup yogurt ( I used Greek)

1 cup milk( I used non fat)

1/2 to 1 cup sugar - to taste

Method:

1. Mix all together . If needed add a splash of lemon juice to your fruit to perk up the flavor. With fruits that oxidize such as peaches use lemon to prevent color change.
2. Freeze in you ice cream machine according manufacturer's instructions.

Drink Orange Juice With Meals!

A recent study carried out by the University of Buffalo has shown that flavonoids in Orange Juice can cancel out some of the negative effects of a high fat, high carbohydrate meal. Subjects were given a glass of orange juice with a fatty meal or a placebo and it was shown that blood markers of inflammation were less in the folks that drank the Orange Juice. The levels of SOC3-3 were also less this is a known contributer to insulin resistance and type two diabetes.

Yet another great reason to enjoy a glass of delicious Florida Orange juice with meals!

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life/health-fitness/diet/Orange-juice-fights-stress-from-high-carb-meal/articleshow/5745594.cms

Fun Facts on Oranges

Here are some fun Orange Facts:

• Navel Oranges are named after the belly button shape near the bottom!
• Christopher Columbus brought the first orange to America in 1493
• Oranges are the largest citrus crop in the World
• Orange Trees were first grown in China
• A little green on the skin is often caused by re greening and will not affect the taste
• About 25 billion oranges are grown each year in America, Florida grows the most
• Each person eats about 12.5 lb of citrus each year!
• Orange trees are evergreen
• In the 18th Century British sailors took sauerkraut and citrus fruits on the ships to prevent scurvy

• One orange supplies a full days Vitamin C requirement
• Oranges will not over ripen when left on the tree
• Oranges taste delicious!