Cara Cara Oranges are this week’s Fresh Pick of the Week from the valley’s three Certified Farmers’ Markets. Cara Cara Oranges are an all-natural hybrid orange – the result of the cross-pollination of a Washington Navel Orange and a Brazilian Bahia Navel Orange. The result is a medium sized Navel Orange with rich red flesh and an incredibly sweet citrus flavor. In addition to their unique sweetness (due to their lower than usual acid content), Cara Cara Oranges have a flavor that is more complex than most navel varieties – one that has been described as evoking notes of cherry, rose petal, orange, raspberries and even blackberries.
Cara Cara Oranges get their name from the place where they were discovered – the Hacienda de Cara Cara in Valencia, Venezuela. Although they were first discovered in 1976, they have been slow to become widely available in the United States. Even now, many parts of the country have never seen these delicious Navel Oranges.
Did you know: Cara Cara Oranges are not a type of blood orange. In fact, they get their unique color from lycopene (also found in tomatoes), instead of the anthocyanins that give blood oranges their deep red color.
Price: $5 a bag.
