We Are Your Source For The Finest Citrus

At Sunburst Oranges we are experts in sourcing the best orange available at any time of the year. What are you looking for in the way of the finest citrus products?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

By far the most abundant species of Citrus worldwide is the orange. But an orange is an orange is far from the whole story. Botanists, plant pathologists, historians and many other researchers have grappled for years with theories of how to classify the many types of fruit known as ‘citrus’ and has existed throughout history since antiquity. Only now, thanks to new genetic and molecular biological techniques, the relationships between these fruits have been unraveled.

Climate factors can have a remarkable effect on citrus. For example the large-fruited Washington navel orange, renowned world-wide as the finest fruit for hand-held consumption, attains the ideal size when grown in California but will become undesirably large when grown in the humid, semitropical climates of Florida or Brazil. Conversely, the small-fruited Hamlin orange of Florida and Brazil will never attain a commercially acceptable size when grown in the arid and cooler climate of the southern California coastal region.

Climate also affects the shape of the fruit: certain citrus varieties grown in low humidity will cause the extension of the axis making the fruit oblong instead of round. Mandarins can develop a “neck” and grapefruit will reach an elongated shape referred to as a “sheep nose”.

Fruit color of most citrus is markedly affected by climate during the ripening period. Maximum color intensity is achieved when the fruit is subject to chilling, normally as a result of cold nights, and subsequent wide diurnal fluctuations of warming temperatures. Citrus in tropical areas may never obtain the color change with the possible exception of the Dancy tangerine.

Other fruit characteristics materially affected by atmospheric humidity during the growing season include rind surface, thickness, texture and adherence, and texture of the flesh of the fruit and juice content. Flavor is also markedly affected by mostly the same climatic factors. The natural sugar and acids in citrus and the ratios of the two determine the intensity of flavor. Mostly the arid, semitropical climates produce stronger richer flavors than the semitropical and tropical areas. The reverse can be true with some high acidic varieties such as kumquats and some mandarins as well as the bitterness of most grapefruit.

The more you know the better consumer you are.

If you are looking for the perfect citrus for yourself or as a gift for a business associates, your family or friends? A quick visit to sunburstoranges.com can solve all of your fresh gift giving adventures. We sell only the finest selections and the freshest citrus you can buy.

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Sunburst Oranges

180 South “E” Street

Porterville, CA  93257

559-561-3391