What Are Navel Oranges?
- The distinctive belly button-like hole in the end of each navel orange is actually an underdeveloped second (and sometimes third) fruit. The mutation that led to this extra orange also left the fruit seedless and, thus, sterile. As a result, all navel orange trees are grafted clones of the original mutant plant. Though many people associate orange groves with tFlorida, most of the country's navel oranges are grown in California.
- Some say navel oranges originated from a mutation that occurred in the Mediterranean, while others credit a mutant plant in China. Regardless, the first documented appearance was in Brazil and in 1873, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) obtained clippings from the South American country. Initially, American navel oranges were cultivated by Eliza Tibbets in Riverside, where they took remarkably well to the mild California climate. Most navel orange trees grown today are ancestors of the original Tibbets trees.
- Navel oranges have several advantages over other orange varieties. Most notably, they contain either no seeds or very few seeds. They have an unusually thick, pitted skin that is easy to peel. The thick skin also protects the delicate interior segments from bruising. Most navel oranges have a low acid content and a very sweet flavor. Once peeled, navel orange segments are larger and easier to divide than other types of sweet oranges. Because its season runs November through January in California, the navel orange makes a popular holiday gift.
- Navel oranges today come in several different varieties thanks to further mutation. The Washington variety is widely considered to be the parent of most navel plants. It is larger than other varieties, slightly flattened in shape and has a protruding navel. The Everhard variety is the most common navel orange grown in Texas, has a navel so small that it is barely visible. Cara Cara is an early-ripening variety with light-colored flesh. Farmers and home gardeners may choose to grow different varieties based on how they fare in particular climates. But ultimately, all navel oranges share very similar characteristics.