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Tony's TV Topic: California Navel OrangesToday's tip of the day is going to be with new crop California Navel oranges. The season has started for the number one orange enjoyed throughout the United States, because California has a wonderful navel orange, but you have to select and store them right this time of year, because the sugar isn't totally there yet, and the prices are still high. Later on in the season the sugar will be higher and the prices will be lower and that's a good thing all the way around. Let's talk about selection.When selecting them, unlike the Valencia, the navel orange has to have an orange color all the way around without any greening whatsoever; they have to be nice and orange. Then you have to check the navel part of the orange on the bottom, and because of the navel, that's why it's called a navel orange. The navel has to be nice and small, because if it's big that orange will have a thick skin and inside there won't be a lot of juice, and let's put it this way, it won't taste any good. Then like all citrus the shinier they are, the fresher they are, and the heavier they are, the sweeter they are, because there's more sugar (juice) in there which gives them the weight. When you bring them home it's always important it store oranges on the counter, never ever store them in the refrigerator. If you store oranges in the refrigerator, you'll destroy their nutritional content and their flavor. Oranges are so good for us and loaded with an unbelievable array of nutrients. They have 130% of the vitamin C we need every day, which in oranges has been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels and keep the cholesterol carrying LDLs from damaging artery walls. They have folic acid, 12% of the DV for potassium, 21% DV for fiber, and a hefty arsenal of more than 170 phytochemicals including flavonoids, limonoids, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and triterpenoids. Most of the fiber and phytochemicals found in oranges are in the pulpy part and in the white fuzzy stuff just under the orange peel. Enjoy wonderful sweet navel oranges every day and get all that good nutrition when you do. Ensure getting the most nutritional value from your navel oranges by checking the web page for other orange selection, storage and preparation tips. Then enjoy an Avocado - Citrus Salad or one of my other favorite fruit and vegetable recipes that includes dairy free and vegetarian dishes. Read my monthly "FRESH GROCER" newsletter along with other articles of interest in the reference shelf, and always remember to "Eat Fresh & Stay Healthy".
Ciao, |
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