Melissa's launches the prized Sicilian Tarocco orange season
Melissa's launches the prized Sicilian Tarocco orange season
Melissa's/World Variety Produce Inc. in Los Angeles began shipping Sicilian Tarocco oranges the week of March 12, and Robert Schueller, director of public relations for Melissa's, said that this season's crop is living up to its reputation for high quality.
"Sicilian Tarocco oranges are considered premium in the citrus category," said Mr. Schueller. "The Brix level is consistently fabulous year after year. The ecological balance of the island's coastal breezes, volcanic soil from Mount Etna and the warm climate gives the fruit a red interior blush. For centuries, these oranges have been a staple of Italian life, and the prized flavor has made them favorites of chefs around the world."
Although Arabs and other Muslim groups brought the first citrus fruits with them when they emigrated to Sicily before A.D. 1000, it wasn't until the mid-1850s that Sicilians perfected the high-quality specialty orange varieties in a manner organized enough -- and in large enough volumes -- for commercial export.
With the advent of steamships in the early 1800s, Sicilian citrus exports to northern Europe countries enabled middle-class -- especially the English and Dutch -- to enjoy what they considered the luxurious and exotic fruit.
From 1870 to 1884, the production of citrus fruit in Sicily nearly doubled, enabling the commodity to join the export ranks of wine grapes, grain and other products that are indigenous to the island, such as sulfur.
Since that time in history, most of Sicily's citrus crop exports have gone to European countries, and ultimately flowed east into Asia, the Far East and the Middle East.
Today, Canada is a strong export market for Sicily, but it is only in the past few years that the top three varieties -- the Tarocco, the Sanguinello, a flavorful variety similar to the Tarocco but slightly smaller, and the Moro, which has a dark purple blush pulp and is commonly referred to as the blood orange -- have been introduced to American consumers.
"The oranges grow in popularity every year across the U.S.," said Mr. Schueller. "Consumers recognize the sweet flavor, and more people look for them on their grocer's shelves every season. This is a particularly important season for high-quality citrus from Sicily because of the shortages caused by the weather-related citrus losses in California. Melissa's eagerly anticipates a great year with Sicilian Tarocco oranges."
"Sicilian Tarocco oranges are considered premium in the citrus category," said Mr. Schueller. "The Brix level is consistently fabulous year after year. The ecological balance of the island's coastal breezes, volcanic soil from Mount Etna and the warm climate gives the fruit a red interior blush. For centuries, these oranges have been a staple of Italian life, and the prized flavor has made them favorites of chefs around the world."
Although Arabs and other Muslim groups brought the first citrus fruits with them when they emigrated to Sicily before A.D. 1000, it wasn't until the mid-1850s that Sicilians perfected the high-quality specialty orange varieties in a manner organized enough -- and in large enough volumes -- for commercial export.
With the advent of steamships in the early 1800s, Sicilian citrus exports to northern Europe countries enabled middle-class -- especially the English and Dutch -- to enjoy what they considered the luxurious and exotic fruit.
From 1870 to 1884, the production of citrus fruit in Sicily nearly doubled, enabling the commodity to join the export ranks of wine grapes, grain and other products that are indigenous to the island, such as sulfur.
Since that time in history, most of Sicily's citrus crop exports have gone to European countries, and ultimately flowed east into Asia, the Far East and the Middle East.
Today, Canada is a strong export market for Sicily, but it is only in the past few years that the top three varieties -- the Tarocco, the Sanguinello, a flavorful variety similar to the Tarocco but slightly smaller, and the Moro, which has a dark purple blush pulp and is commonly referred to as the blood orange -- have been introduced to American consumers.
"The oranges grow in popularity every year across the U.S.," said Mr. Schueller. "Consumers recognize the sweet flavor, and more people look for them on their grocer's shelves every season. This is a particularly important season for high-quality citrus from Sicily because of the shortages caused by the weather-related citrus losses in California. Melissa's eagerly anticipates a great year with Sicilian Tarocco oranges."
