WHAT ARE ORANGES?
Citrus sinensis, or oranges are ‘orange-coloured’ roundish fruits that grow on tree reaching 10 metres high. The are a great source of Vitamin C belonging to the family Rutaceae. Oranges are hesperidium and have a tough shiny ‘orange skin’ that holds acid within its outer layer. The fruit is divided into segments, held together by the thin tough skins. Each section has a pulp-filled juice sacks within.
On average, an orange has ten segments. Within each segment, there are seeds called “pips” from which orange trees can be grown. Sweet orange accounts for 70% of the oranges found in the market. Sweet oranges are a hybrid between the pomelo (citrus maxima) and mandarin (citrus reticulata). Along with apples and bananas, it is one of the most consumed fruits in the world. The edible part of this fruit is in the flesh, which can be consumed in its original state or juiced. These fruits have become an important source of food in the world today.
Asides being an excellent source of Vitamin C, they also have a longer shelf life compared to other fruits. The colour orange derived its name from the fruit. Fun fact – the word “Orange” belongs to a small group of English words that do not rhyme with anything.
WHERE DO ORANGES COME FROM?
The origins of oranges are believed to be native to the tropical regions of Asia, particularly the Malay Archipelago and are believed to have been cultivated from remote ages. More accurately, the origin of oranges takes us into the Southeast Himalayan foothills, in a region including the eastern area of Assam (India), northern Myanmar and western Yunnan (China). Fossil specimen from 11.6 – 5.3 million years ago (late Miocene epoch era) from Lincang (Yunnan, China) shows traits that are evident characteristics of current major citrus fruits and as such, provides substantial evidence for the existence of a common citrus ancestor within the Yunnan province.
Despite this information, very little was referenced about oranges with regards to human context with only the first written evidence of the fruit making its appearance in China prior to 314 BC. Zooming 400 years into the future, the sour orange was spread by Moors pursuing the Islamic conquest within the 8th Century. Though not palatable, the sour orange was used widely in the medicinal field by herbalists. By the 11th century, the orange has spread through modern day Arab to Persia, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, North Africa and Spain.
WHO ARE THE BIGGEST EXPORTERS OF ORANGE IN THE WORLD?
According to the Observatory Economic Complexity (OEC) for 2019, data shows that oranges (citrus) grossed $14.2B, ranking in as the 249th most traded product in the world. The top exporters of oranges in 2019 was Spain, who grossed $3.58B dollars. The next largest exporter was the South Africa, who grossed $1.47B. China grossed $1.18B, and United States grossed $914M. Ranking in 5th, Egypt grossed $874M. Between 2018 and 2019, exports of oranges witnessed a 6.63% decline. In 2020 however, the Spain still ranked as the top exporter or oranges, grossing $1.4B. subsequently, South Africa and Egypt ranked in second and third, each grossing $818.0M and $651.2M respectively in exports. Coming in 4th and 5th, the United States and Netherlands respectively grossed $578.6M and $351.9M.
WHO ARE THE BIGGEST IMPORTERS OF ORANGE IN THE WORLD?
For the year 2019, Germany was the top market for citrus (fresh orange) imports, totalling $1.26B. The United States and France came in 2nd and 3rd at $1.12B and $1.09B respectively. Russia ranked in fourth, attaining imports valued at $1.09B and Netherlands in 5th place, with an estimated value worth of $894M. Data sourced from TRIDGE reveals that in 2020, Germany ranked in first again with an estimated imports of oranges valued at $509.9M. The next four countries were the France at $494.4, Netherlands with imports valued at $463.3M, China at $408.7M and finally Hong Kong at $301.1M worth of imported oranges (citrus).
HOW DO ORANGES GROW?
Growing your own personal orange tree is not difficult as you might think. After enjoying a juicy orange, save the seeds. Soak them in lukewarm water for a day to enable the softening of the seed coats and thus, the planting process begins! Some people would use the paper towel method to germinate the seeds but for effective results, the soil method produces best results. Acquire your container and ensure it has enough holes for proper drainage. Fill the pot/container with soil and plant the seeds half and inch deep. Now you can water the plant, but do not let the soil become soggy. Cover the container with either a plastic bag or wrap and check regularly to ensure the soil remains moist. Store the container in a warm place.
Orange trees are heavy feeders and as such, require lots of nutrients. Fertilize once or twice in the year and water regularly when matured. Once you detect the sprout, move to a sunny area and maintain moisture. Once the seedling is large enough, transplant to a large permanent area. One helpful tip to note is that fungus can ultimately destroy your saplings so do well to eliminate as many possibilities as possible. During winter (should you experience this), cover the seedlings and container to retain the moisture. The tree of the orange fruit, bears abundantly even from 50 to 80 years so it is without a doubt, a lifelong investment, relative to the human lifespan.
HOW DO YOU HARVEST ORANGES?
Harvesting oranges depends on a number of factors, affecting when the fruits ripen. As easy as it may seem, knowing when to pick a ripe orange can be tricky. The colour does not generally serve as indictor of how ripe an orange is but keep in mind never to pick the green fruits off the tree. When an orange is ripe, it will almost certainly drop from the tree. Inspect the fruit from old, fungus or blemishes. So how does one check to know when to harvest?
Pick one or two fruits when you suspect the fruits are ripe. Perform a taste test before you proceed to harvesting the entire tree because citrus fruits do not continue to ripen once plucked from the tree. When sure, simply grasps the ripe fruit and give it a gentle twist and pull. Some fruit will be high, so use a ladder to reach those. Depending on the variety, some oranges fall on their own when they are ripe, and others, you can just pick.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH ORANGES?
Oranges are a highly nutritious fruit. These fruits contribute to a strong, clear skin that helps reduce the risks of many health conditions. Popular as a result of their natural sweetness and juicy succulence, people consume them in many different forms; from juices, to marmalades, eat them whole, peeled or used to season items such as cakes and desserts.
What’s an excellent source of Vitamin C? I bet the first thing or among the first couple of answers you would hear is “an orange” and that’s the truth! This excellent source of Vitamin C helps combat the formation of free radicals that in turn cause cancer. Though a high intake of vitamin C has been shown in a study to inhibit colorectal cancer, no one can realistically consume that much. So, there’s never such a thing as “too much Vitamin C”.
That said, a study linked grapefruit and oranges to higher risks of skin cancer so whiles at it, eat in moderation. Too much of everything is bad after all. Studies show nutrients from oranges contribute to the protection of cells from damage, leaving you with that radiant beauty sunlit glow, makes it easier for the body to absorb iron and tip the scales in the fight against anaemia, boosts your immune system to help fight common ailments or diseases and defend against germs. Though not evident immediately, there is a lot an orange can do for your health and body!
HOW DO YOU GET STARTED IN THE ORANGE FARMING BUSINESS?
Got your attention now? Interested in knowing how to get started in the orange farming business? Your baby steps begin with us!! Contact us today to get an executive summary on how to get started in this fast-growing citrus business. We can’t wait to help you plan the right agricultural approach to your farm.
