Mountain Mandarin Harvest Season!
By Margie McCavitt Sweet, juicy, seedless and easy to peel Mountain Mandarins are ripening as you read this!
The season begins in mid-November and continues through January. The warm days and cool nights make Placer County a perfect place to grow this popular fruit. There are about 30 Mountain Mandarin Growers throughout the rural areas of Auburn, Newcastle, Penryn, Loomis and Lincoln. To learn more about local mountain mandarin growers, visit their website at: mountainmandarins.com.
The mandarins are a treat to eat, plus, they are nutritious and healthy as well. The USDA tested mandarins from 10 different micro climates in Placer County and found that they contain six to seven times the amount of synephrine, a naturally occurring decongestant, than other citrus fruits. More nutritional information on the Owari Satsuma Mandarin and the health benefits of mandarins are listed below.
We have a tour scheduled at one of the growers, Mandarin Hill Orchards in Penryn. Please join us on Wednesday, November 28 at 11:00 am. Enjoy learning about their history, dating back to 1947, and delight in the 30-45 minute tour of the orchard. There will be mandarins available to purchase as well! Be prepared for rainy weather and wear appropriate footwear. Owner Tom Aguilar said the tour will be on asphalt and mostly on flat surfaces. For directions and more information about the orchard, please visit their website at: www.mandarinhillorchards.com.
But wait there’s more! If you would like to get some mandarins before the WW tour, check out the 19th Annual Mountain Mandarin Festival in Auburn, Friday, November 16, 2012, Saturday through Sunday, November 18, 2012. Here’s a link to the festival for more details: www.mandarinfestival.com or call: (916) 663-1918. There will be several growers selling mandarins at the three day event.
Nutrition Information about the Mandarin
Owari Satsuma Mandarin Orange One "average-size" piece of fruit contains: Vitamin A: 420 I.U. per 100 gram Vitamin B: Thiamin .07 mg Riboflavin .03 gram Niacin .2 gram Vitamin C: 31 mg Carbohydrates: 10.9 gram Calcium: 33 mg Iron: .4 mg Phosphorous: 23 mg Potassium: 110 mg
• While average annual U.S. Mandarin consumption hovers at about 1 pound per person, in Placer County, it is now 3.5 pounds per person, up from 1 pound in 2001. (SF Gate, 2005) • The American Cancer Society recognized the important role that a healthy, balanced diet including citrus fruits and juices may play in helping reduce the risk of certain types of heart disease and cancers. • Placer County Mandarin growers recommend one very important benefit: Fresh locally grown mandarins provide a delicious experience! • Satsuma mandarins are seedless, juicy, easy to peel, and healthy. They are one of the super foods - very high in vitamin C. Mandarins are in season at the perfect time of year when we need to have that kind of food in our system to keep us healthy.
Sláinte! Margie