By: Andy Johnston, Produce Category Manager
January is peak citrus season in the Produce departments at Willy Street Co-op. Sure, we have lemons and limes all year, and in the summer months, we get Valencia oranges, but January is when the domestic citrus season is at its best! There are more varieties and options than any other time of the year, and they’re all bursting with their own unique flavors!
Citrus is packed with vitamin C and is loaded with fiber, flavenoids, and carotenoids that help support health from your head to your toes. The fruits are sweet and juicy, and are perfect for a little “pick-me-up” on a cold winter day. Each bite is like a little taste of sunshine!
Almost all of our organic oranges and mandarins are grown in California’s San Joaquin Valley. The hot, dry summers and mild winters, along with nutrient rich soil, produce the ideal conditions that allow citrus to thrive and develop its rich flavors and bright colors. Some of our favorite citrus products in January are Churchill Orchards organic Kishu mandarins, Satsuma mandarins from Johansen Ranch, and Minneola tangelos, blood oranges, and TDE mandarins from Buck Brand Citrus. All of the January citrus is really good, but over the years, these products are consistently mind-blowingly delicious!
Not sure what you want to try? Use our citrus guide to find the fruit that’s right for you! And, always feel free to ask the Produce staff what’s really good right now. We’re tasting products as they’re coming into the stores, and we love helping customers find the most delicious citrus items in the Produce department!
Here are the varieties that will most likely be available in January. If you want to be sure, we recommend calling ahead to ask! Satsuma Mandarins, Clementine Mandarins, Kishu Mandarins, Rio Star Grapefruit, Pomelos, Navel Oranges, Cara Cara Oranges, Blood Oranges, Kumquats, Minneola Tangelo, Meyer Lemons, TDE Triple Cross Tangerines, and Buddha’s Hand Citrons.
