FoodFood InformationFruitCitrus Fruits
The sweet orange and the grapefruit are the most important citrus-fruit crops. In third place is a large group of orange-skinned varieties of citrus fruits that are collectively known as Mandarins. There are more than a dozen varieties of them that are grown commercially. Those tiny Mandarin orange sections that are sold in tins at the supermarkets come from the Orient. These were first propagated as far back as 2000 B.C. Some of the newer varieties made their debut in Florida in the twentieth century. Most Mandarins (with rare exception) are flat in shape, have loose "zipper" skins, and peel and segment quite easily. Some varieties have seeds, some are seedless. While Mandarins are grown worldwide nearly all those sold in North America are grown in either Florida or California.
Deamer 5/97