Skip to main content

Farmers' Market Report: Choosing Your Citrus

Support Provided By
pomelo

All the talk of flu season right now is a good reminder to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables, especially those packed with the immune-boosting vitamin C found in citrus. But given the staggering variety of oranges and grapefruits found this time of year in Southern California, which to choose?

This week at the farmers' markets, two in-season fruits in the citrus family will round out your mid-winter selections: the low acid, dark orange-pink fleshed-Cara cara navel oranges and the show-stopping, giant greenish-yellow skinned pomelo.

As vendor Fabian of John's Farm in Woodlake, California, tells us this week at the West Hollywood Farmers' Market, Cara cara oranges are low in acid so they're easier to digest than many other citrus fruits. These fruits were originally discovered at the Hacienda de Cara Cara in Valencia, Venezuela, three decades ago -- hence the name -- and are now grown locally.

Pomelos are also grown locally, though they originated in Southeast Asia centuries ago. They are only in season for a few weeks, so find yours while they last (and they are hard to miss). The pomelo is the largest of the citrus family, and close to a grapefruit in taste, with pink-colored flesh. The thick white pith and low juice, however, make this a tough fruit to eat with a spoon, so peel it and tear or slice it into segments to eat. The upside is that this fruit is sweeter than many grapefruit varieties and easier to eat on the go. Plus, the size of the pomelo makes for a great conversation starter.

Support Provided By
Read More
A black and white photo of an adult dressed as the easter bunny with a giant costumed head, holding a little girl on their left who gives it a kiss on the cheek and, with his right arm, holding a little boy who brings his hands to his eyes as though wiping away tears.

Behold the Bunnies and Bonnets of L.A.'s Past Easter Celebrations

The onset of the spring season heralds the arrival of fragrant flowers in bloom — and all the critters that enjoy them, including the Easter bunny and families who anticipate his arrival with egg hunts, parades and questionable fashion choices.
A black and white image of an elephant holding a broom with its trunk. A man is seen near the elephant, walking towards the animal.

Lions and Tigers and Cameras! How the Movies Gave Los Angeles a Zoo

The early days of the movies in Los Angeles inadvertently allowed visitors to experience the largest collection of animals in the western United States. When animals weren't appearing in a movie, they were rented out to other film companies, performed for studio visitors, or in the case of filmmaker William Selig's collection — an opportunity to create one of Los Angeles' first zoos.
A vertical, black and white portrait of a blonde woman wearing a sparkly four-leaf clover costume as she holds her arms out and extends a leg as though in a curtsy.

Irish for a Day: L.A.'s History of 'Going Green' on St. Patrick's Day

Whether it was a parade, dance, tea party, home celebration or just enjoying a good ol' wee dram of whisky, here's a photo essay of how Los Angeles donned its green apparel to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and embrace the luck o' the Irish over the years.