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Bite Of Minnesota: Heritage Reserve Oranges

Let's face it, we live in Minnesota and there are a lot of things that cannot survive in our dramatic climate. As much as I want a lemon tree in my front yard, it's just not going to happen. Heck, I've even tried having a dwarf lime tree indoors complete with sunlamps, but that only lasted a short while before its demise.

To help remedy the situation, I've turned to places like Fruitshare to deliver the best organic citrus to my doorstep each winter and even had my parents bring grapefruit back from Texas last month.

At a recent happy hour, a few friends and I were talking about our frustration with unpredictable grocery store produce, especially oranges. It's quite the bummer to spend all that time peeling an orange only to find a dry and tasteless fruit inside. I was surprised to learn that one of my friends didn't have that problem. She was working with a company that sold heritage navel oranges and has been enjoying fresh citrus all winter. Best of all, these oranges are being sold at Cub Foods.

She must have seen the look of disbelief cross my face since she offered to send me a sample of Heritage Reserve navel oranges. (Yes, I suppose I could have run to Cub myself, but I'm not one to refuse delivery.)

Heritage Oranges
(credit: Crystal Grobe)

I have to say I was quite impressed and ate most of them raw for lunch. Since they are picked ripe and not gassed or "degreened" before hitting the shelves, the flavor was great, just like an orange should be. I used them in a couple recipes, one of which I'll share next week. Until then, here is a link to a delicious Citrus Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing that I plan to make with my next batch of oranges and grapefruit.

FTC Disclosure: I received 6 free oranges from LoBue Citrus to try without cost to me. As always, all opinions are my own and I was not under any obligation to write about this product.

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