Citrus Bowl Name Leaving Orange County

The Citrus Bowl's new name, Camping World Stadium, doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. By the time we all get used to saying it, the eight-year naming deal will expire and the rights could get sold again to another company we've never heard of.

This is the stark reality of the marriage of convenience between sports and corporate sponsorships. The bigger story here is the death of the orange in Orange County. Now that the Citrus Bowl will be erased from maps, the last big landmark and homage to the industry that gave the county its name is gone.

The passing wasn't a sudden one. The Citrus name has been on its way out for decades. But watching the Citrus Bowl name get the boot is kind of like seeing the name of someone you know in the obituaries. It makes it real.

It was the early 1980s and the name Tangerine Bowl, which came about in 1947, was out of date after a freeze in the 1950s had wiped out most of the tangerine production. "The tangerines were more susceptible to cold," Chicone said. So the change to the more encompassing term "citrus" seemed more modern.

"Orange County at one time was one of the top five producers of citrus," Chicone said. "It was big time. There were about a dozen packing houses on the railroad tracks downtown." Today there are so few citrus groves left in Orange County they could fit neatly inside a single modern housing development such as east Orlando's Avalon Park.

Long before the 1980s, the replacement of an orange sculpture near the entrance of downtown Orlando foreshadowed the future. The pedestal across from Lake Ivanhoe near Interstate 4 now holds a miniature Statue of Liberty provided by the Boy Scouts.

In the 1990s, a giant grapefruit, tangerine, lemon and a pair of oranges at the Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge on Lee Road near I-4 also disappeared during a renovation. But the Citrus Bowl remained a constant. Even after the citrus growers marketing group stopped paying for the sponsorship in 2003, and the game became known as the Capital One Bowl, the stadium kept the moniker.

The New Year's Eve game will be called the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl (at Camping World Stadium).

Are you looking for fresh citrus to use as gifts for a business associates, family or friends? A quick visit to http://sunburstoranges.com can solve all of your fresh gift giving adventures. We sell only the finest selections and the freshest citrus you can buy.

Presented By:

Sunburst Oranges

180 South “E” Street

Porterville, CA  93257

559-561-3391

10 Sweet Facts About Honey

Turns out that Americans consume 1.5 pounds of honey per person annually, and there are more than 300 types of honey in the United States alone. That’s impressive, and we figured that if honey gets to be honored all month long, the least we could do is give you 10 different uses for it. Enjoy!

1. Put it on your lips

Did you know that making your own lip balm is as easy as tracking down some almond oil, beeswax and honey? Sure is. Makes you feel a little guilty about that $10 version you picked up at the health food store yesterday, doesn’t it?

2. Make your own honey moisturizer

If you’ve got a handful of sweet smelling herbs – think lavender – laying around and ready to be used, why not use them for your own homemade honey lotion? Warm honey over a saucepan until it gets to a liquid consistency. Pour honey over herbs and cap tightly; the ratio you want to use is 1 tablespoon of herbs per 8 ounces of honey. Let sit for a week and then mix 1 teaspoon of liquid into an 8 ounce bottle of unscented lotion.

3. Eat it with goat cheese

In need of a classy hors d’oeuvre but lacking in the time department? Try this: put a round of goat cheese in a ramekin, sprinkle honey and chopped walnuts on top and place in oven at 350F until honey and cheese are both soft. Serve with baguette or crackers and you’ll be the life of the party.

4. Drink it

We all know a drop of honey in tea is good for a sore throat, but you can add it to most drinks for an extra energy boost. And simply because it’s a whole lot better than tossing in a few Sweet ‘N Lows.

5. Give yourself a facial

Honey is a natural humectant with antimicrobial properties, which means your skin will be happy when you give it some sweet honey love. Try a basic honey wash by mixing a dollop of honey and two tablespoons of warm water and massaging the mixture into your skin. Or you can go all out and try the Cucumber Honey Facial.

6. Clean your cuts and scrapes

Honey can actually be used as an antiseptic, like a natural Neosporin. Because of its many antimicrobial properties, it can be used to treat wounds and even burns.

7. Get rid of your hangover

Forget a morning of popping ibuprofen, spread some honey on your toast or add some to your tea. Because honey is loaded with fructose, it will help speed up the metabolism of alcohol.

8. Clear up your dry elbows

Nothing’s worse than scratchy elbows (no really) so next time, after you’ve washed and scrubbed, rub some honey on to soften the skin. Leave on for 30 minutes then wash off.

9. Get an energy boost

Feeling a tad lethargic? Skip the coffee and go for the honey instead. Mix a tablespoon into a cup of tea and you’ll be feeling better in no time.

10. Beautify your hair

In the shower, after you wash your, coat the ends with a bit of honey. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing out and you’ll find that your hair is less frizzy and extra conditioned. Or make your hair shiny and bright by adding one teaspoon honey to one quart of water, and after washing your hair, pouring the mixture over your head. Let dry and enjoy your new-found shiny do.

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.

Presented By:
Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391

Spicy Citrus and Honey Chicken Wings

The contrasting flavors of oranges and spice with the sweet of the honey make a unique marinade for these broiled wings. A great recipe for feeding any crowd. This dish will twist your tongue with delight and just by looking at the wonderful meal, you will drool enough that could cause a flood!

Ingredients

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup Fresh squeezed Sunburst orange juice

1 Envelope (0.7 oz.) Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix

1 Tablespoon hot pepper sauce

2 dozen chicken wings, split at joints, tips removed (7 lb.)

Directions

Mix first 4 ingredients in large bowl until blended. Reserve 1/4 cup of the honey mixture; refrigerate until ready to use. Add chicken to remaining honey mixture; toss to coat. Refrigerate for 1 hour to marinate.

Preheat broiler. Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade. Place wings on rack of broiler pan.

Broil, around 4 inches from heat, 16 to 20 minutes. or until chicken is done, turning occasionally and brushing with the reserved honey mixture for the last 5 minutes.

Are you looking for fresh citrus to use as gifts for a business associates, family or friends? A quick visit to http://sunburstoranges.com can solve all of your fresh gift giving adventures. We sell only the finest selections and the freshest citrus you can buy.

Presented By:

Sunburst Oranges

180 South “E” Street

Porterville, CA  93257

559-561-3391

What Do Mead and Citrus Based Honey Have In Common?

Melovino, the only commercial meadery in New Jersey, opened just over a year ago and has already won 19 awards, including a gold medal in March at the Mazer Cup International, a prominent mead competition in Colorado.

We can actually say that the best fruit mead in the world is made in Vauxhall, NJ. Those who don’t know what mead is, let alone that it has become the subject of the kind of fevered contests more commonly associated with barbecue, have plenty of company. Meade is made from fermented honey, mead predates beer and wine by thousands of years. It makes appearances in both the epic poem “Beowulf” and Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales.” Though it has long been a staple in countries like Ireland, Poland and Ethiopia, where it is called tej and considered by many to be the national drink, it is just now gaining popularity in the United States.

The flavor of the Meade depends on the nectar the bees sourced,” said Mr. Moutela, who uses wildflower, buckwheat, orange blossom, clover, tupelo and other types of honey that range in taste from floral and citrusy to fruity and spicy. The mead’s flavor, though, does not derive from the honey alone. The possibilities are endless. Have you ever heard of a grape wine having ghost peppers? With mead you can do that? Local apple cider can also be used to dilute the honey instead of water, something that the meadery did recently with a mead he calls Nice as Pie.

Mead is the next big trend in craft beverages. A recent sold-out 90-minute tour of Melovino lent credence to that claim. Twenty-five people pay $20 each to walk through the production facility, which currently bottles 42,000 gallons of mead per year in more than 30 varieties, and were treated to a tasting afterward. Melovino offers seven tours per weekend, and, Mr. Moutela said, they consistently sell out.

Melovino has a limited distribution operation, though it is to begin selling to 50 restaurants and liquor stores in New Jersey this month. Regular customers have until now bought 500-ml bottles, which cost from $18 to $25, either online or have driven to the retail room at the back of the strip mall.

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.

Presented By:

Sunburst Oranges

180 South “E” Street

Porterville, CA  93257

559-561-3391

What Is Better To Celebrate Spring Than Fresh Oranges

Welcome in SPRING on a healthy foot with a  glass of fresh squeezed orange juice.

Fresh squeezed orange juice can be a good source of vitamins and other nutrients. Squeezing your own at home would be about the only way to get the real flavor and these nutrients.

40lb Carton Sunburst Juice Oranges perfect for home juicing.
Carton contains approx. 80-113 oranges  $20.00

20lb Carton Sunburst Juice Oranges perfect for home juicing.
Carton contains approx. 40-56 oranges  $10.00

Are you looking for the perfect gift for business associates, family or friends? A quick visit to sunburstoranges.com can solve all of your fresh gift giving adventures. We have the finest selections and the freshest citrus you can buy.

Presented By:
Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391

Orange Slices Stay Fresh Longer

Glad's Billboard Made of Oranges Is Honored Among the Year's Freshest Advertising

Berlin, Germany, not many U.S. ad campaigns were big winners Monday at the Epica Awards judging, and two that did score golds came from a surprising category.

Packaging wrap competitors Ziploc (owned by S.C. Johnson) and Glad Cling Wrap (owned by Clorox) both claimed gold at the award show, judged by a jury of international journlists who cover advertising.

Epica draws entries largely from European agencies, but a number of U.S. campaigns made the judges' shortlist. In the categories judged on Monday, only two U.S. efforts won:

Glad Cling Wrap and Alma: Fresh vs. Rotten Billboard

Epica Award: Gold

Category: Household Maintenance (Outdoor)

Over a period of about a week this billboard began to reveal a hidden message using the Glad Cling Wrap. to protect just some of the orange slices. The eye chatching message also caught the judges attention.

This outdoor board, made from 680 orange slices, didn't make much sense when first posted by Glad's Miami-based agency, DDB-owned Alma.

But some slices were wrapped in Cling Wrap, and as the other slices rotted, the message "Fresh Longer" became visible.

Video: https://youtu.be/090afIfeyoU

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.

Presented By:

Sunburst Oranges

180 South “E” Street

Porterville, CA  93257

559-561-3391

Biodegradable Plastic Made From Orange Peels

Scientists discover a novel way of using microwaves to turn orange peels and other plant-based waste into plastic.  Plastic waste is one of the worst forms of trash because it takes so long to degrade, thus overflowing our landfills and polluting our oceans and waterways. But what if we could make plastic from a recycled, natural, biodegradable source? 

That's the idea behind a new technology developed by British scientists that uses microwaves to turn plant-based waste, such as orange peels, into eco-friendly plastic. Researchers have created a partnership with the juice-making industry in Brazil and have launched the Orange Peel Exploitation Company to demonstrate the technology on a large scale. 

"There are 8 million tons of orange residue in Brazil. For every orange that's squeezed to make juice, about half of it is wasted," said James Clark, professor of green chemistry at the University of York and developer of the new approach. "What we've discovered is that you can release the chemical and energy potential of orange peel using microwaves." 

The technique works by focusing high-powered microwaves on plant-based material, transforming the tough cellulose molecules of the plant matter into volatile gases. Those gases are then distilled into a liquid that researchers say can be used to make plastic. The process works at 90 percent efficiency, and it can be used on a variety of plant waste beyond orange peels. Orange peels are particularly good for this technique because they are rich in a key chemical, d-limonene, which is also an ingredient in many cleaning products and cosmetics. 

"The unique feature of our microwave is that we work at deliberately low temperatures. We never go above 420 degrees Fahrenheit. You can take the limonene off or you can turn limonene into other chemicals," he said. "It works really well with waste paper. It can take a big range of bio-waste material," said Clark. 

The environmental benefit of this technology goes beyond developing a more biodegradable plastic. It also recycles plant waste which is normally discarded. Farmers, factories and power stations that deal with a lot of excess biomass could be a few of the beneficiaries.

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.

Presented By:
Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391

Baked Oranges And Cream Recipe

Baked whole Oranges laced with dessert wine make a simple but chic dessert served with double cream.  When you have to have dessert when you are trying to be healthy and lose wight but just need a tasty something after dinner.

Ingredients

2 Sunburst Oranges

5 fluid ounces good-quality dessert wine

2 Tablespoon sugar

2 sprigs of thyme

3½ fluid ounces double cream

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400° Fahrenheit.

Cut off the top of each of the oranges. Use a knife to make some incisions in the flesh that this has revealed.

In a small bowl mix the wine and sugar. Place the oranges in a small baking-tray or casserole dish, then pour the wine-sugar mixture over their open tops. Add the sprigs of thyme to the tray and replace the tops. Cover the tray or dish with tin foil and bake on the middle shelf for 25 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350° Fahrenheit, remove the foil and bake for a further 35 minutes.

Remove from the oven and allow the oranges to rest for five minutes. Place a whole orange on a plate and serve with a jug of double cream. Some people will eat the fruit peel and all, others scoop out the flesh.

Serves two

Are you looking for the perfect wholesome and gift to use as gifts for a business associates, family or friends? A quick visit to http://sunburstoranges.com can solve all of your fresh gift giving adventures. We sell only the finest selections and the freshest citrus you can buy.

Presented By:

Sunburst Oranges

180 South “E” Street

Porterville, CA  93257

559-561-3391

Orange Communications Solar Tent

Here is an Orange item that is very different and solves today’s camping power problems. Communications and lighting are no longer an issue for tech savvy campers.

Solar Gear Design By Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope leveraged knowledge from the consumer goods and emerging technology markets to create an innovative Orange Solar Tent product design concept.  The annual Glastonbury music festival draws crowds from around the world to celebrate performing arts, the great outdoors and worthy causes. To address the on-site power needs of Glastonbury’s eco-conscious campers, Kaleidoscope teamed up with Orange, one of the world’s leading telecommunication providers. Inspired by the new flexible photovoltaics in development, the tent--if produced for consumers--would be covered in a semi-photovoltaic fabric woven with both coated solar threads and conventional threads to form a solar shell that could be adjusted to face optimum sun throughout the day. The solar energy would then be channeled into four main power uses: heating, lighting, communications, and recharging

The Challenge

Telecom giant Orange unveiled a concept solar tent in conjunction with the opening of this year's Glastonbury music festival in the U.K.  By combining solar power and camping systems, we designed earth-friendly solutions that allowed festivalgoers to power their mobile phones, camping gadgets and other electronic devices.

The Solution

To develop and enhance the solar tent concept, we conducted thorough research into emerging energy and communications technologies. This research allowed us to showcase Orange Mobile’s enormous potential as a future innovator in the burgeoning field of creative energy solutions. For that reason, the tent would be equipped with "Glo-cation" technology that would allow users to find their tents by sending an SMS message or using an automatic RFID tag similar to the ones used in London's Underground Oyster subway cards. The tent would then glow in response.

The tent would also serve to broadcast a Wi-Fi signal, though it's unclear whether it would have a Wi-Fi booster for a central area hub or act as an independent Wi-Fi router. While this week happens to be pretty bright and sunny, I'm not so sure a solar tent is the way to go in the land of perpetual, mild drizzling, like England. But I could certainly see this being a favorite at Burning Man.

The Results

The concept garnered significant press for both Orange and the Glastonbury music festival, including mentions in CNet, Engadget, Gizmodo, Treehugger and IGN. The Orange Solar Tent product design concept was selected as a finalist for the Greener Gadgets 2010 competition.

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.

Presented By:

Sunburst Oranges

180 South “E” Street

Porterville, CA  93257

559-561-3391

Chocolate Powers Our Lives

Chocolate has been called many things by many different people but it is known as an antidepressant, tonifier, stimulant, euphoriant, and even aphrodisiac! What does science say?

Chocolate is exceptional high-energy food relative to its small volume. It is considered a food that promotes effort whether intellectual or physical. Chocolate’s chemical composition includes carbohydrates (starch, diverse sugars), fats (cocoa butter), and vegetable proteins. Minerals can also be found in chocolate: potassium and magnesium in large amounts, calcium and sodium in small amounts, and iron in trace amounts. Chocolate also contains vitamins A1, B1, B2, D, and E.

The pleasure derived from chocolate is believed to stimulate the secretion of endorphins, natural opiates. At least five pharmaco-dynamic (producing reactions in humans) substances are found in small amounts: Theobromine, Caffeine, Phenylethylamine, Anandamide and Serotonin.

Theobromine stimulates the central nervous system and the appetite, facilitates muscular activity, and has diuretic and a cardiotonic effect.

Caffeine increases resistance to fatigue, enhances intellectual activity, and increases watchfulness. The amount of caffeine in one chocolate bar is about a third of the caffine in a cup of coffee.

Phenylethylamine has a chemical structure similar to amphetamines and contains psycho-stimulating properties. Chocolate contains the highest concentration in any food of phenylethylamine, which is the chemical produced in the brain when a person is in love. Phenylethylamine combines with dopamine to produce a mild antidepressant effect. All of these stimulants increase the activity of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) in parts of the brain that control our ability to pay attention and stay alert.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (substance freed by the nerve endings) in the cerebral cortex. Its quantity is often found to be lower during certain nervous depression states. The serotonin found in chocolate helps correct its initial loss. Caffeine and saccharose stimulate the body's stimulation of serotonin.

Anandamide also affects brain chemistry to produce feelings of calm and well being. The effect is quite small but noticeable.

Research has proven that when people strongly crave chocolate, low-quality candy won't fix the craving. Very high fat, dark chocolate which transports plenty of cannabinoid cousins, along with natural opiate inducing cocoa butter is what they crave.

Chocolate contains more than 300 known chemicals

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.

Presented By:

Sunburst Oranges

180 South “E” Street

Porterville, CA  93257

559-561-3391

Eating Chocolate Boosts Your Brain Power

In the mid 1970s, psychologist Merrill Elias began tracking the cognitive abilities of more than a thousand people in the state of New York. The goal was fairly specific: to observe the relationship between people's blood pressure and brain performance. And for decades he did just that, eventually expanding the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study (MSLS) to observe other cardiovascular risk factors, including diabetes, obesity, and smoking. There was never an inkling that his research would lead to any sort of discovery about chocolate.

Late in the study, Elias and his team had an idea. Why not ask the participants what they were eating too? It wasn't unreasonable to wonder if what someone ate might add to the discussion. Diets, after all, had been shown to affect the risk factors Elias was already monitoring. Plus, they had this large pool of participants at their disposal, a perfect chance to learn a bit more about the decisions people were making about food.

The researchers incorporated a new questionnaire into the sixth wave of their data collection, which spanned the five years between 2001 and 2006 (there have been seven waves in all, each conducted in five year intervals). The questionnaire gathered all sorts of information about the dietary habits of the participants. And the dietary habits of the participants revealed an interesting pattern.

"We found that people who eat chocolate at least once a week tend to perform better cognitively," said Elias. "It's significant—it touches a number of cognitive domains."

The findings, chronicled in a new study published last month, come largely thanks to the interest of Georgina Crichton, a nutrition researcher at the University of South Australia, who led the analysis. Others had previously shown that eating chocolate correlated with various positive health outcomes, but few had explored the treat's effect on the brain and behavior, and even fewer had observed the effect of habitual chocolate consumption. This, Crichton knew, was a unique opportunity.

Not only was the sample size large—a shade under 1,000 people when the new questionnaire was added—but the cognitive data were perhaps the most comprehensive of any study ever undertaken.

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.

Presented By:
Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391

Chocolate Infused Pork Chop Recipe

Chocolate and meat may have started with the Aztecs (in their thick, chocolate-tinged mole sauce) but the food marriage has been spreading to the artisanal candy aisle and non-Mexican restaurants. You may very wary of this combination but knew when to give in--if for no other reason than to say at least tried it. Consider a first foray into chocolaty meat, probably like many others, was the bacon chocolate bar

"Like any food trend, you may feel like meat candy started out as a questionable idea that, in the hands of someone who can make good food, was well executed and thus delicious. That said, a lot of meat-based confections are pretty gross. Do consider this treat for a main course.

Ingredients

4 (1 1/2-inch-thick) bone-in pork chops
2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon Real Salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, Italian seasoning, onion powder, cocoa powder, garlic powder, paprika, red pepper, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Rub the mixture evenly over pork chops.

Add the oil to a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork chops and cook for 3 minutes per side. Put the skillet in oven and bake the pork chops until cooked through, about 3 minutes.

Remove the skillet from the oven, transfer the chops to a serving platter and serve.

If you are looking for the perfect citrus or chocolate 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.

Presented By:
Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391

The Finest Chocolate Treats For Your Clients

Are you looking for the best possible treats for your best clients? Do you think a special thank you just might keep you top of mind with your top customers? Top-of-mind awareness (or TOMA), is a pretty simple concept with pretty major implications. When customers are asked which products or brands come to mind first when a particular business sector is mentioned, the one they choose is at their “top of mind”. Coming up with a plan to get to the top of your customers’ minds, however, may prove to be a bit more complex. With so many options available, how can you be sure that your brand’s marketing strategy gives you a fighting chance to be “top of mind” in your particular sector?

Many people assume that “top of mind” status is reserved for the big boys with deep pockets and vast resources. Of course, this is often the case – Nike dominates the athletic shoe sector, McDonald’s has cornered fast food, and so on. But if you’re a small to medium-sized business (or even a one-man show), take heart: there’s more than one way to win the “top of mind” battle.

People, customers and businesses enjoy being appreciated and thanked. That simple act is not done often enough. If your business practices the simple act of making sure your customers continue to know they are appreciated. Thanking and appreciating their customers is how a corner coffee shop stays in business when the major chain moves in across town. As pervasive as the larger competition’s marketing may be, there is something to be said for personalized touch, community ties and the “look and feel” of home.

The easiest way to make a customer feel valued and part of a two-way relationship, is to continually thank them for their business and loyalty. Today’s customer needs to feel valued or they will take their business elsewhere. Incredibly, 68% of businesses lose a customer because they feel a company is indifferent about them. Whereas, only 9% leave because of what a competitor is doing.

Find that special reason to give you customers chocolate from Sunburst Oranges.

Are you looking for the perfect wholesome and gift to use as gifts for a business associates, family or friends? A quick visit to http://sunburstoranges.com can solve all of your fresh gift giving adventures. We sell only the finest selections and the freshest citrus you can buy.

Presented By:
Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391

Lemon Prices And California Drought Related

At a time when big Midwest grain crops are contributing to lower global food prices, the lack of rain in the nation’s biggest agricultural state is boosting costs for fresh fruits.

First it was the surge in beef prices, and then seafood went through the roof. Now you can add lemons to the growing list of ingredients cutting into profit on the menu at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab.

The three Joe’s restaurants, in Washington, Chicago and Las Vegas, use more than 800 lemons a day sliced as garnishes on entrees or juiced for drinks and sauces. A case of 165 lemons costs managing partner Mike Rotolo about $50, up from $30 to $35 in the past year, and many are less juicy than normal.

"This is the worst I’ve seen, and I’ve been at it for at least 25 years," Rotolo said by telephone from Chicago. "We’re fighting costs on all fronts, with seafood, prime steaks. If we changed our menu every time we had a spike in one of the items we’re buying, it’s just impossible."

A prolonged drought in California, which grew 91 percent of U.S. lemons this year, contributed to a surge in costs. Wholesale prices almost doubled from a year earlier, and retail lemons are up 36 percent to $2.327 a pound in August, the highest since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking them in 1980.

At a time when big Midwest grain crops are contributing to lower global food prices, the lack of rain in the nation’s biggest agricultural state is boosting costs for fresh fruits. The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts an increase of 5 percent to 6 percent this year, matching expected gains in meats and eggs. Smaller U.S. livestock herds sent retail beef and pork to records this year, and a USDA shrimp index is up 24 percent in a year and the highest since the data starts in 1991.

Lemon sales got a boost this year when the price of limes tripled by May for some buyers, after crop damage in Mexico, the biggest supplier to the U.S., left tight supplies. Some bars and restaurants began substituting lemons in drinks and menu items just before consumption was beginning its seasonal peak, said Kristy Plattner, an agricultural economist with the USDA’s Economic Research Service in Washington.

Are you looking for the perfect wholesome and gift to use as gifts for a business associates, family or friends? A quick visit to http://sunburstoranges.com can solve all of your fresh gift giving adventures. We sell only the finest selections and the freshest citrus you can buy.

Presented By:
Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391

California Water Allocation Increases

The Drought is Not Over.  With March storms boosting reservoir levels, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) increased its water delivery estimate (allocation) for most recipients to 45 percent of requests for 2016. The 29 public agencies (State Water Project Contractors) that receive State Water Project (SWP) water requested 4,172,786 acre-feet of water. With the allocation increase, they will receive 1,898,964 acre-feet.

DWR’s initial State Water Project (SWP) allocation of 10 percent of requests in December was increased to 15 percent on January 26 and to 30 percent on February 24 after January storms increased the Sierra snowpack and brought significant rainfall to the drought-parched state.

Although February was mostly dry, rain and snow returned in March to boost the state’s two largest reservoirs – Shasta Lake and Lake Oroville – to slightly above their historic levels for the date. Some key reservoirs, however, remain far below expected levels for this time of year.

The drought has not ended

California has been experiencing prolonged dry conditions. Seven of the nine years since 2007 (when the 2007-09 drought began) have been dry. California also experienced record warmth during this time, heightening impacts to mountain snowpack and cold-water fisheries. 2014 and 2015 were, respectively, the warmest and second-warmest years in 121 years of statewide average temperature records.

Although this is the wettest year since the drought began in 2012, one somewhat improved season does not compensate for four prior years of drought. Ending a drought means having enough precipitation and runoff throughout the state to mitigate the impacts we’ve experienced. Water year 2016 doesn’t get us there.

Consider:

Parts of Northern California remain at below-average precipitation and all of Southern California is well below average. Although storage is recovering in some of the large Sacramento Valley reservoirs, this is not the case in the San Joaquin Valley. Groundwater levels throughout the state dropped to historic lows during the past four years and as much as 100 feet below previous historical lows in parts of the San Joaquin Valley. One winter season will not recover this storage. As of today, statewide snowpack stands at 89% of the April 1 average, the time of maximum historical snow accumulation. Southern Sierra snowpack is at only 77% of the April 1 average.

Accurately predicting whether water year 2017 will be wet, dry, or average is beyond climate forecasters’ present scientific skill. We must be prepared for the possibility of a dry (and perhaps warm) 2017 and the incremental impacts of another dry year on the state’s already stressed water resources and water users.

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.

Presented By:
Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391

Honey Glazed Shrimp With Rice Pilaf

Are you looking for a sweet treat for your family this evening? Honey glazed shrimp over rice pilaf is sure to please your whole family.

For the Shrimp

Ingredients 

2 Tablespoons - reduced sodium soy sauce
1/3 cup – Sunburst Orange Blossom honey
1/4 cup - lemon juice
2 lbs. - shrimp, peeled and deveined

Directions

Mix together soy sauce, honey and lemon juice in a small bowl. Brush shrimp with 1/2 of glaze and set aside remaining glaze. Grill shrimp over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes on each side or until pink. Remove from grill and baste with remaining glaze.

Rice Pilaf

Rice combined with a medley of vegetables and spices. A great side dish with chicken and pork. Leftovers are great for lunch the next day."

3 tablespoons butter
2 carrots, finely chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
1 small red bell pepper, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups white rice
1 (8.75 ounce) can no-salt-added sweet corn, drained
1 (15 ounce) can no-salt-added sweet peas, drained 

Directions:

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir carrots, celery, red bell pepper, onion, and garlic until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
    
Gently stir rice, corn, and peas into vegetables to combine. Pour chicken broth, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce into rice mixture. Season with lemon pepper, parsley, thyme, saffron, salt, and black pepper, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let pilaf stand covered until grains are separate, 10 to 15 more minutes.

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.

Presented By:
Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391

April Is Invasive Plant Pest And Disease Awareness Month

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today proclaimed April as Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month.  Each year during April, USDA amplifies its public outreach about the risks that invasive plant pests, diseases and harmful weeds pose to America's crops and forests, and how the public can prevent their spread.  These non-native, destructive species can seriously harm the economy, environment, or even human health.

Invasive plant pests and diseases can jeopardize entire industries such as U.S. citrus or hardwood timber.  For just one disease, huanglongbing (HLB or citrus greening), in one state, Florida, the losses are alarming: more than $4.5 billion in lost citrus production from the 2006/07 to 2010/11 production seasons.  One invasive pest, the emerald ash borer beetle, has destroyed tens of millions of American ash trees in our forests and communities.  Scientists have estimated the cost of all invasive species to all economic sectors to be approximately $120 billion yearly.

With stakes this high, public awareness and action become key elements in protecting America’s agricultural and natural resources.  APHIS created its Hungry Pests public outreach program to empower Americans with the knowledge they need to leave these “hungry pests” behind.  For instance, invasive pests can hitchhike in and on the things we move and pack, such as firewood, plants, fruits and vegetables, outdoor furniture and agricultural products ordered online.

So this April, APHIS is asking Americans to visit HungryPests.com to learn what invasive plant pests and diseases are in their state or threaten it.  Get information about damaging pests that USDA and its partners are combatting right now, especially tree-killing pests that are beginning to emerge this spring and into the summer.  Be on the lookout for the emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle, which starve trees to death by boring into them and eating their insides.  Keep an eye out for the gypsy moth, whose hungry caterpillars can strip trees and bushes bare.  Not all tree threats are insects; sudden oak death disease, caused by a fungus-like organism, can kill many types of trees as well as many landscape plants, such as camellias and rhododendrons.

Most importantly, learn the “Seven Ways to Leave Hungry Pests Behind,” such as buying firewood where you burn it, or only moving treated firewood if you must bring it with you.  Such simple actions could save a forest or an entire industry from devastation by invasive species.  Individual citizens play a vital role. This month, be on the lookout for videos, articles and social media buzz on invasive species and how to stop their spread.  Start by joining the conversation on the Hungry Pests Facebook Page.

For its part, APHIS has numerous partners at the federal, state, county and local levels, and at universities and nongovernmental organizations.  Through its many safeguarding activities abroad, on the border and across the country, APHIS helps to ensure a diverse natural ecosystem and an abundant and healthy food supply for all Americans.  Please join us in the effort to protect these vital resources.

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.

Presented By:
Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391