Orange (fruit)

An orange is a citrus fruit that grows on a tree. Oranges are grown primarily in tropical or subtropical regions of the world. Round in shape and usually orange or yellow in color, oranges are enjoyed for their sweet and juicy edible pulp. Oranges were first grown in ancient Asia and eventually migrated to Europe and the Americas. Orange consumption was primarily limited to the wealthy class for many years, as the fruit had to be either imported or grown in private and controlled settings. As time passed, countries such as Brazil and the United States became the largest producers of oranges in the world. Millions of tons of oranges are produced on an annual basis around the world. Oranges are used for many purposes. Often eaten raw, oranges provide essential nutrients to the human diet. The rind of oranges is commonly used in skin care, cleaning, and other products.

Background

Researchers believe that the orange, along with most citrus fruits, originated in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia such as southern China and northeastern India. Oranges also can be traced back to areas of the Malay Archipelago. Ancient texts dating to the fourth century B.C.E. mention the orange, although citrus fruit in general is discussed in Chinese texts dating to the twenty-third century B.C.E. Cultivated by ancient communities, the fruit spread to other regions of the world over the centuries. The original citrus prototype produced several types of oranges, such as sweet oranges and bitter oranges. These assortments were often classified by their region of cultivation.

Oranges remained a primarily eastern delicacy before slowly making their way west. Premodern European travelers often wrote of the beautiful citrus trees and their strange fruits in their chronicles. The first orange to gain mention in European travel logs was the sour orange, also known as the bitter orange. Sweet oranges did not appear in European documents until many centuries later, although the fruit was referred to in Chinese literature. Chinese documents written in the twelfth century C.E. describe twenty-seven varieties of the sweet, sour, and mandarin oranges found in China.

Researchers believe that Italian traders or Portuguese navigators eventually brought oranges to the Mediterranean region during the fifteenth century. Prior to its cultivation in Europe, the orange was primarily used for medicinal purposes. Wealthy people began to grow oranges in structures known as orangeries, making the fruit more available for consumption. Oranges became known as a sweet and delicious luxury of the wealthy class. European expansion and eventual colonization of the Americas led to sweet oranges being grown in the hotter regions of Central and South America. Over the next few centuries, oranges were introduced to southern North America and the Hawaiian Islands. By the late twentieth century, the orange had become one of the most widely grown fruit trees in the world. North and South America became the world's leading producers of oranges.

Overview

The common orange fruit, often referred to as the sweet orange, is a member of the Citrus sinensis species of citrus plant. The sweet orange is distinct from the related sour, or bitter, orange (Citrus aurantium) and the mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata). The word orange derives from the Sanskrit word naranga, which is believed to derive from the Tamil word naru, which means "fragrant." Oranges were associated with fertility in ancient times for reasons related to the orange tree's ability to produce fruit, flowers, and leaves.

An orange tree can grow up to fifty feet in height. The tree's branches are slim, and some trees grow thorns. Orange trees often produce small, sweet-smelling white flowers. The orange fruit itself is ball-shaped and can range between two and four inches in width. A rind that turns orange or yellow when ripe surrounds the pulp, or edible part of the orange. The inner rind is white and spongy. The rind is removed before consumption. The pulp can be yellow, orange, or reddish in color. It consists of small, closely packed translucent juice sacs, which are encased in ten to fourteen individual wedge-shaped transparent compartments. These compartments, also called slices or segments, can be separated and eaten individually. Some oranges contain seeds, but many varieties are typically seedless.

Three basic types of oranges exist. Sweet oranges are the most sought after type of orange for their sweet pulp and juice. Due to genetic mutations, hundreds of varieties of sweet oranges exist. The most popular varieties include the navel orange, Valencia orange, and blood orange. Sweet oranges are usually eaten fresh after ripening. Another type of orange is the bitter orange. Bitter oranges are too sour and acidic to eat fresh and are often used for jams and sauces. Common varieties of bitter oranges are the Seville orange and bergamot orange. The peel from bitter oranges is valuable to consumers for its essential oils, which are used in fragrances, cleaning agents, and skin care products. Lastly, mandarin oranges are a smaller type of orange with loose rinds that are easily peeled. The pulp segments of mandarin oranges are loose and easy to separate. Mandarin oranges can be sweet or slightly bitter. Oranges, like most citrus fruits, contain high levels of vitamin C, an essential nutrient.

According to 2014 data from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, the Americas produced the highest amount of oranges in the world, yielding more than 56 percent of the world's total. As of 2014, Brazil was the world's top producer of oranges, yielding nearly 19 millions tons annually. The United States came in second at 9.4 million tons, with the states of Florida, California, Texas, and Arizona leading in orange crop yields.

Bibliography

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