Oranges are filled with Vitamin C that can help our bodies fight off illnesses like the flue. An orange is citrus fruit and we need to eat it to help keep us healthy. You can even squeeze out the juice and drink it.
- How many oranges are grown per year in America?
- Give some examples of citrus fruits?
- How high can a orange tree grow and how old can they get?
- Why are a certain type of orange name a 'navel orange'?
- Where does the name 'orange' come from?
- What is the meaning of 'fragrant'?
- Who brought the first orange seeds to America and when did this happen
Do you know what a 'hybrid' is? It is the product of a combination of two things. An orange is a hybrid of a grapefruit and a mandarin (also types of citrus fruits). If you combine these two, you get an orange.
Oranges has been grown for thousands of years. It started out in South Asia and Brazil grows about a third of the world's oranges. In the USA, most of the oranges are grown in California and Florida.
Most oranges are produced to be used as orange juice. Only about 15% of all oranges are used for eating or other uses like cooking jam which is called marmalade.
As we mentioned already, oranges has vitamin C that keeps you healthy.
Because oranges do not spoil easily and are full of vitamin C during the years of world exploration sailors planted orange and other citrus trees along trade routes to prevent scurvy which is a disease that develops from a deficiency of vitamin C.
If you open up an orange you will see it consist of segment. Most oranges have 10 segments in an orange. There are different types of oranges. 600 types to be precise. They can differ in the way they look, their colour, taste and how thick the skin is.
If you want to grow oranges, you need to stay in place with a moderate climate, which means not too hot or too cold and with enough sunshine and rain. Sub tropical conditions are ideal.
Farmers or gardeners uses the orange peels to put it over their vegetables to keep away snails and slugs.
The white orange blossom, is the state flower of Florida. It is highly fragrant and has long been used in weddings as cake decoration, in bridal bouquets and in head wreaths. The blossom essence is an important component in the making of perfume and the petals can also be made into "orange blossom/flower water".
Can you think of any other uses for oranges? Have a look at the video for ideas.
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