Valencia Oranges

The Valencia orange is named for the city of Valencia in Spain, but the oranges originated in India.  These oranges are among the sweetest and are grown primarily for juice production.  It accounts for 50% of the Florida crop.  It is commonly called "the juice orange" partly because of its distinctive bright colored juice.

Valencia Oranges

The peel is thin and tight around the fruit which I find difficult to peel and eat.  I usually quarter the orange and eat it over the kitchen sink.  It is so juicy.  The Valencia orange does have a few seeds, perhaps a handful at the most.

In our small grove, the Valencia oranges are the last to mature.  With the cool weather this year, the oranges kept well into late March.  The skin turns yellow but it may stay greenish, too.  It is still mature; however, it keeps well on the tree.

Have yourself a well deserved Florida Sunshine Shake by mixing the following ingredients in a blender:

1 cup Florida orange juice
1/2 cup Florida Grapefruit juice
1 ripe banana, peeled
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract.

Blend and serve immediately.  It makes two servings.

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