Citrus Fruits - From Grapefruits to Oranges Quiz

Answer: Florida

Grapefruits are very popular and come in a wide variety: Marsh Ruby, Ruby Red, Rio Red, White Golden and Star Ruby grapefruits. The main fraction of the grapefruit industry can be found in Florida, with California and Texas vying for second place. Pummelos, which is considered to be a Chinese grapefruit, can be found in season from November until March.

A Pummelo is not as tangy as regular grapefruits. They have a milder, sweeter taste, and their skin is thick and green. Pummelos are the largest grapefruit. Grapefruits are a very nutritious citrus.

They are very high in dietary fiber and contain no cholesterol. On a hot summer's day, try an ice cold glass of grapefruit juice. Another suggestion for grapefruits is to sprinkle a little brown sugar and place them in a broiler, until the sugar is bubbly.

Answer: Arizona and California

California and Arizona produce ninety-five percent of the United State's lemon crop. Lemons are bright yellow, tangy and tart, and are an essential part of most dieters weight loss regiment. Lemons are used in a wide variety of ways. Did you know that placing a bowl of lemons in a room will keep the room smelling fresh for days? A tall glass of fresh squeezed lemon juice with a sprig of mint helps one relax and feel cool on warm summer nights.

Answer: Eureka and Lisbon

The two most common varieties of lemons are Eureka and Lisbon. Those two varieties of lemons are so similar that most lemon experts cannot tell them apart. There is also another lemon variety that was founded in 1908 by Frank N. Meyer. The Meyer lemon is considered to be a cross between a lemon and a tangerine or possibly a mandarin. Meyer lemons are less acidic than the Eureka and Lisbon lemons.

They are more fragile and require extra care when shipping.

Answer: A cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit

While there are several different varieties of tangerines, the most popular version is the tangelo. Tangelos are a cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine. Noted for their juiciness and mild sweet flavor, they make excellent after-school snacks for children and for anyone that has a busy schedule. Minneolas and Orlandos are the most popular in the tangelo family.

Here is a cool summer treat for tangelos: Buy a three pound bag of tangelos, peel, section into quarters and remove the seeds. Place a small, thin wooden stick (like that found in ice cream bars) and place in the freezer until frozen. Take one out and enjoy a tangelo frozen fruit snack.

Answer: 45,000 pounds every six months

All citrus, including oranges, must ripen while on the trees from which they grow. In an orange grove there are approximately forty pieces of fruit per a forty acre block. Only two oranges per block are picked to determine if those oranges meet the industry standards for the making of orange juice. Those two oranges are tested for acid and brix. From these two attributes, they determine the acid-sugar level, which in effect determines the flavor of the juice. Once this test is done, and it is determined that this block is indeed ready to be harvested for the juice, the entire block is then hand picked.

The pickers climb on ladders and carry up with them canvas picking sacks. Once the pickers have picked the oranges, they are placed into a tub that holds approximately nine hundred pounds of oranges.

The orange growers have a special truck that is called a 'goat', which comes around to the tubs, and lifts the oranges into an open trailer that can hold approximately forty-five thousand pounds of oranges.

Then it is off to the processing center. Once there, the oranges are weighed in and priced out. After the money has been paid for the oranges, the oranges are then loaded onto a converyor belt so that they can be placed into large tubs to await inspection by members of the Food And Drug Administration (FDA), they test two oranges for their juiciness and sweetness. After that, the oranges are then off the the inspection room, where they are sorted according to size and separated. Inspectors then check for any spoiled or damaged fruit. Then it is off to the juice extraction room. Before the juice is actually extracted, the skin of the orange is then pricked to remove the oil that is contained in the skin. The seeds and pulp are then removed. The pulp and seeds are used in cattle feed. Then the oranges are off to the juice extraction room. Once the juice has been extracted, it is then placed through a pasteurizer. The juice is then placed in large storage containers, and then shipped to local distribution centers (the same centers that filter milk!). Once there the juice is then filtered into cartons, and loaded onto trucks. These containers of orange juice will then be delivered to your grocer's refrigerated section. The only thing left to do is to pour an ice cold glass of orange juice and enjoy!

Answer: True

When looking for any type of citrus, you have to check for fruits that are heavy for their size and category. You have to look for skins that are bright and colorful. It is best to avoid purchasing fruits that have bruises or have what is considered wrinkled skin, as this may be a sign that the fruit has been sitting at your grocer's for quite sometime.

Answer: The Basketball Method

There are two ways which oranges, tangelos, grapefruit, and lemons can be peeled: The Basketball Method is where the ends of the citrus is cut away, and you peel the skin in a downward motion. The other method that is commonly used to peel a citrus is called the Round And Round Method.

The Round And Round Method is where you cut the peel lightly at the top and start by peeling the skin in one piece around and around, leaving only the membrane of the fruit to show. After the skin is peeled away, and the membrane is revealed, you should section the citrus into quarters.

Answer: True

Growers of these fruits tell us that they are good for us. While that is very true for someone who is required to watch their sugar intake, such as a person who is diabetic, the citrus listed in this quiz contain a natural acid-sugar level. It is best to consult with your doctor and ask him or her how much citrus is acceptable for someone who is diabetic.

Answer: Winter

Most citrus trees start to bud in the winter. Approximately ninety-five percent of citrus flowers fall off of their trees. What is left on the trees become fruit. After it is ripe and then picked, it is sent off to local distributors for processing.

Answer: Tropical Lemonade

Once you have all of the ingredients together, the next this is to combine the fresh-squeezed lemon juice, water, sugar, and ginger. Mix well and chill for two hours. Then place ice cubes and four pineapple pieces in a tall glass and add chilled ginger lemonade. All of this information can be found at www.sunkist.com.