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A Delightfully Sweet Experience

What could be a better snack than a Navel orange? Universally considered the best oranges for eating out-of-hand, seedless Navels have juicy flesh, easy-to-peel rinds and an irresistibly pure, sweet orange flavor. All Navel oranges have an opening at the blossom end of the fruit that resembles a belly button – hence the name, Navel.

The History of the Navel Orange

The Navel Orange was discovered in 1820 in Bahia, Brazil, when a mutation occurred in a grove of Sweet Orange trees. In 1872, Brazil sent a dozen Navel Orange seedlings to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC. The next year, Mrs. Eliza Tibbets of Riverside was given a seedling from the USDA, and the seedling began producing fruit in 1878. This variety of orange became known as the Riverside Orange, but the name was changed to Washington for better national appeal. Other varieties of the navel orange include Atwoods, Thomson, Fisher and Lane Late.

By 1882, over half a million citrus trees were growing in California. This time in history became known as the “other” California Gold Rush, which established the citrus industry. Today, the parent Washington Navel Orange Tree still stands in Riverside, though it was transplanted in 1902 from its original home to a different location. Despite its age, this tree, which is now protected, continues to bear fruit to this day.

Because Navel Oranges are seedless, they can’t reproduce through pollination and require “budding” or grafting to create new trees. This process is done by taking a bud from a Navel tree and grafting it onto another citrus plant. Because the budding process is used, Navels today have the same genetic makeup as the first Navel orange from the original tree.

Selecting Your Navel Orange : Goodness from the Inside Out

• Select a Navel that is firm, shiny and heavy in your hand for its size.
• Make sure that the orange doesn’t have soft spots or wrinkled skin.
• Check its scent – it should smell good, not rotten or fermented.
• While it is important that the navel is heavy and shiny, other elements of its visual appearance are not. Scarring and an imperfect orange color are not indicative of the flavor of the orange.

How to Care For and Store

California Navel Oranges should be stored in a cool, well ventilated area. Typically, storing oranges between 45° and 48° F is best. Navels can stay at room temperature for 3 or 4 days. If refrigerated, they can be kept for up to 2 weeks.

How to Enjoy

• Peel and eat for a quick, easy and nutritious snack on the go!
• Toss orange slices with any salad to add color, sweetness and extra nutrition.
• Add slices to yogurt for a light snack or breakfast.
• Use the skin to make candied peels or preserves.
• Marinate chicken in the juice, zest and fresh herbs for a light meal.
• Dip navel segments in chocolate for dessert.

Orange Tips

• 2 to 4 squeezed oranges = 1 cup orange juice
• 1 medium orange has 10 to 12 section pieces
• 1 medium orange = 4 teaspoons of orange zest
• Juice the orange just before drinking to retain the most vitamins.
• Never store freshly squeezed juice for more than 48 hours.