Oranges and oranges...

Growing up in a Persian household, it was a given that there would always be a large bowl of fruit on the kitchen table. Since that Persian house was located in California, the bowl would be filled with oranges more often than not. If you've never seen it, I have difficulty describing the Persian love affair with fruit. They will eat fruit (especially oranges) at all time of the day or night, before dinner, after dinner, after dessert, with tea, after breakfast...always.

Needless to say, I grew up appreciating all different kinds of fruit, and all kinds of California oranges. When I moved to New Orleans, I thought I would finally be exposed to Florida oranges, and I have tasted a few, but it seems that through shipping or grocery storage or level of ripeness when picked, the oranges (other than those delightful satsumas) have been rather tasteless. I can't tell you how many times I have picked up a bag of oranges, even California oranges, at the grocery store and brought them home only to have bland (even dry!) oranges, piece after piece.

Recently, I was approached by a representative of Heritage Reserve Navel Oranges. They had just began distributing to Rouses Supermarkets in Louisiana and they wanted a blogger to review their product, so they sent me a box. Heritage Reserve has been planting orchards in California's Central Valley since 1896 and their oranges are naturally ripened and colored, using no accelerated de-greening process.

We received the box of oranges about a week ago which contained four bags of oranges, about 5 per bag. Other than one bag I gifted to a friend, John and I have been eating these oranges non-stop since they arrived and they are, admittedly, delicious. Every single one I have tasted has been juicy, fragrant, tart and sweet all at the same time. I have never gone through an entire bag of oranges and had them ALL taste good in a very long time. Kudos to you, Heritage Reserve, for producing a consistently wonderful orange.