Sweet Oranges

Sweet oranges originated in Southeast Asia, North Eastern India, and Southern China. The Spaniards, or more precisely Christopher Columbus,... more

by Nicole Jean-Louis

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Price

Not Specified

Dimensions

18.000 x 24.000 x 0.090 inches

Title

Sweet Oranges

Artist

Nicole Jean-Louis

Medium

Painting - Oil On Canvas, Silver Metal Leaf

Description

Sweet oranges originated in Southeast Asia, North Eastern India, and Southern China. The Spaniards, or more precisely Christopher Columbus, introduced the sweet oranges to the American Continent and Mexico, in the mid-1500; the French introduced it to Louisiana. [1]

Sweet orange production is prevalent in Brazil who is the largest producer in the world followed by California (USA) and Florida.

Sweet orange tree which is a fruit of warm climates is the most cultivated fruit tree in the world. It is an important crop in the Caribbean. When harvested, sweet oranges must be matured, because, it will not continue to be ripening after picking it from the tree.

At the consumer�s home the sweet orange has a shelf life of about one month.
Although the flesh of the sweet orange is orange, the skin of sweet oranges in the tropical countries is green. Those green skin sweet oranges however are perfectly ripe. In a warm tropical country, the green color is an indication of chlorophyll in the fruit. In the warm island by the time the sweet orange shows color, it is ready to get rotten.

Cooler temperatures also bring the sweet orange skin color orange. The cool temperatures release the orange pigment called carotenes.

It is interesting to know that in Europe and the USA, ripe sweet oranges which often have green color skin, go to a process called �degreen� or �gassing� in order to obtain this attractive, sellable brilliant hue color. In that process, Ethylene gas is used as a dye.

The Ethylene gas breaks down the chlorophyll, and gives the sweet orange its orange skin color.

As for human consumption, Ethylene gas is a naturally, colorless occurring gas created by fruits and vegetables while they ripen; It is also naturally occurring in soil and plants. Ethylene gas is a plant hormone. The residue left by the gassing or dying of Ethylene on sweet oranges is negligible and safe.

The good outcome is whether a ripe sweet orange is naturally green or man-made-orange in color, it tastes the same.

It is factual: Sweet oranges have green skin!!


Reference:
1. Wikipedia � Orange (fruit)

Uploaded

March 13th, 2014