Hazel Coolidge, age 12, of Utica, N.Y., for her question:
CALIFORNIA OR FLORIDA: WHICH IS THE ORANGE STATE?
Between California and Florida, the two states grow 95 percent of the oranges produced each year in the United States. But the split between the two states isn't even close since Florida wins the production race by producing about five times more oranges than does California.
Each year California sends about 50 million boxes of oranges to market. And during the same period of time, Florida sends about 250 million boxes.
Over three fourths of the oranges processed in the United States each year are made into frozen orange juice concentrate. Other products include soft drinks, wine and powdered instant orange juice.
Most of California oranges are shipped to serve as fresh fruit. As many as 80 percent of the Florida oranges are sent to canneries that produce frozen orange concentrate.
Orange trees are sensitive to cold and sudden heat. If the temperature falls to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, the fruit and the trees may be injured. For this reason, the trees require a tropical or subtropical climate.
Ideal subtropical weather is found in Central and Southern Florida, Southern California, the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas and parts of Arizona.
One of the important reasons why Florida produces more oranges than California is that it costs more to grow them in California. Florida rainfall is usually adequate and irrigation is necessary only when the distribution of rainfall is irregular throughout a season. Irrigation is necessary in California. Also, labor costs are higher and crop yields are lower in California.
Oranges are picked when the juice, sugar and acid contents reach the levels established by state and federal laws.
Most oranges are clipped off the trees in California. Workers in Florida prefer to pull the oranges off the branches.
Oranges are usually sent to the packing house for immediate processing, unless it is necessary to color them with ethylene gas. The oranges are washed, dried, waxed, graded and treated with a fungicide, or fungus killer.
World production of oranges has increased greatly since World War II. It now averages more than 1 billion 70 pound boxes each year, with more than a quarter of the total amount coming from the United States.
Brazil, Japan, Spain,,Italy, Mexico and Israel are other leading orange producers. Orange growing is also important in Algeria, Argentina, China, Egypt, India, Morocco, South Africa and Turkey.
The orange provides us with an excellent source of vitamin C.