Minneola Tangelos - They're Ready!

Sweet and tart, with few
or no seeds at all, the deep
orange fruit beckons us!

~ carliewired

The tangelo is thought to have originated in southeast Asian some 3500 years ago. It is said to be a cross between the mandarine orange and the pummelo, the ancestor of the grapefruit.

The Minneola tangelo is the most important and most abundant variety grown in the Yuma, Arizona area. Here, tangelos are harvested from mid-December through February. The commercial crop yields over $3 million annually in Yuma County.

Those of us fortunate enough to have a tree in our backyard, enjoy the ability to pick the ripe fruit right off the tree. Tangelos are best hand-peeled and eaten fresh. They have a distinctive shape (a knob at the stem end) and a loose skin so they peel easily. They are sweet and juicy, so leaning over to eat one is essential.

We are advised to pick the fruit and refrigerate it so the tree will produce its best in the next year.