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Take a Bite out of Citrus Season

December 31, 2024

Minnesota winters are tough, but there’s always a spot of sunshine to anticipate: citrus season! The colder winter months are ideal for citrus fruits to ripen to their sweetest, so that’s why you’ll see the Produce departments filled with a rainbow of citrus during this time of year. Stop by Seward Co-op for a wide selection of beautiful, juicy citrus fruits and treat yourself to an old favorite or try something new. Here are a few varieties to keep an eye out for when you’re shopping:

Oranges

Oranges are the classic member of the citrus family. Bright, sweet, juicy, and with beautiful color, oranges are a delectable snack or can be infused into a range of recipes sweet and savory. Their peels can be put to great use as well—try these preserving techniques or use them to add some sunshine to your mocktails.

Heirloom Navel Orange

Expected in January, Heirloom Navel oranges are from older trees that produce sweeter and less acidic oranges. These are a definite go-to for citrus season.

Cara Cara Orange

Cara Caras aren’t your average orange. With a beautiful pinkish flesh and a sweet, floral flavor, Cara Cara oranges are a wintertime treat. Try them in a gorgeously colorful arugula and orange salad, or enjoy them on their own.

Blood Orange

Blood oranges are not only loved for their rich color, but also for their juiciness and pleasantly and refreshingly sour flavor. Lovely in salads and pastries, blood oranges are also great in savory dishes. Try them in miso blood orange scallops.

Mango Orange

Rich, sweet, and honeyed, the Mango orange is a special variety we’ll start to see in January. These little balls of sunshine are perfect for snacking.

Mandarins

One of the first citrus fruits to evolve, mandarins are smaller, sweeter, and generally easier to peel and separate than oranges. If you’re looking for a small, sweet snack, mandarins are a perfect choice.

Kishu Mandarin

Only appearing for a brief week or two window usually in late January, Kishu mandarins are “like a hug for your taste buds” and “the definition of the small joys in life” according to Franklin store Produce Manager Lily.

Nova Mandarin

Novas are super juicy and a perfectly sweet, easy-to-peel snack. Just be careful! This fragrant fruit has seeds.

TDE Mandarin

Stop the presses—TDE mandarins are expected to drop in February, and it’s exciting for everyone. These unbelievably juicy, easy-to-peel, mind-blowingly flavorful fruits are true treasures of the Produce department.

Grapefruits

Sour-sweet, bitter, high in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, grapefruits are a favorite breakfast food for a reason. Try a few kinds when you visit Seward Co-op.

Rio Star Grapefruit

Rio Stars are called stars for a reason: their tart, bitter, juicy, bright red flesh is the ideal balance for grapefruit lovers. Try them to brighten up fish tacos.

A slice of yellow grapefruit

Melo Gold Grapefruit

It’s right in the name: the yellow flesh of these grapefruits is fantastically mellow—but that doesn’t mean it’s boring! The gentle flavor and slightly sour finish are a lovely departure from traditionally bitter grapefruits. But if you want bitter, try some of the pith—that’s where the zing is at.

Pomelo

Though not truly a grapefruit, pomelos are grapefruit-lite and come in a variety of sizes and colors. The large fruit is enclosed within a thick pith, and the flesh is mildly sweet with a bit of bitterness. These are great in salads, salsas, and jams.

Kumquats

The tiny little gems we call kumquats are perfect for snacking. Eat the whole fruit, skin and all, and enjoy a sweet-tart treat.

Kumquats

A Meyer lemon

Meyer Lemons

Likely available through late January, Meyer lemons are oily, fragrant, and tart, but not as sour as the lemons we’re used to. They’re delicious in pastries and the peels are great candied or preserved.

Sweet Limes

If you’ve never had a sweet lime, give them a try! Despite their name, sweet limes look like lemons, taste like sweet lemonade, and have no real tartness. These are wonderful at brightening up a fruit salad.

A sweet lime

Stop in for Citrus Today

Citrus season comes and goes quickly, so stop in today to try a lineup of beautiful fruits available only during this time of year.