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Oranges are better for your eyesight than carrots. It is a well-known
fact that carrots are good for your eyesight but oranges have a higher
concentration of vitamin A and beta-carotene than carrots. - An orange
a day provdes 80% of your daily requirement of vitamin C. Apart from Sao
Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, other states which grow oranges are Sergipe,
Bahia, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul.
Orange trees are ideally planted 4 metres apart, preferably on undulating
land with good irrigation. Ideal growing temperatures are between 25-35
degrees C (day) and 10-15 degrees C (night). The most popular variety
grown in Brazil is the pera which accounts for over 50% of the
total orange crop (in some states as much as 80%) The tree is of medium
size with productivity of around 250kg fruit/plant, a density of 550 per
hectare and ripens between July and November. The second most popular
variety is the nata (Natal) - 20% of the total crop - a large tree
with about the same density per acre. This ripens between August and December
with productivity of 250kg fruit/plant. The valencia, a medium-sized tree,
is next with about 15% of the crop and a lower density of 400 per acre
and 200kg productivity. This also ripens August to December. The hamlin
variety, which is also popular for eating, is gaining in popularity
and ripens earlier in the year and produces 300kg fruit/plant. The once-popular
bahia variety, which has been renamed the Washington Navel in the
United States, has lost its popularity in Brazil due to its rather bitter
taste. The variety most suited to the soil in the Rio de Janeiro area
is the Seleta and Rio-Oranges will be planting this variety
in most of its citrus groves.
In Brazil, historic average productivity was around 3 boxes per tree per annum but much higher levels are now being achieved following improved techniques and the ntroduction of new varieties; 5-8 boxes per tree per annumn is no longer uncommon. Fruit juice processing companies purchase 80% of the crop to manufacture SLCC (Suco de Laranja Concentrado e Congelado) - Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice (FCOJ) - most of it for export It is estimated that oranges are twice as profitable to produce per acre than soya and 5 times as profitable as livestock.
During its period of growth a typical orange tree will absorb from the soil nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous in the ratios of 25%, 34% and 14%. It takes a tree 3 years to reach maturity; disinfecting, fertilizing and maintenance must be carried out throughout this time to ensure optimal productivity.
www.abecitrus.com.br
www.brazilmax.com/news.cfm/tborigem/fe_business/id/7
www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/americas/brazil
www.deliciousrecipes.com
www.tonytantillo.com/fruits/oranges.html
www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/orange.html
This document maintained by marcm@rio-oranges.com.
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