TODAY'S FRESH FOOD IS..CLEMENTINE'S

Working in the produce industry I have started to be more curious about the health benefits of the products that I sell. Therefore I have decided not only to learn more about the foods that I sell and eat, but also to share it with people that not only I care about, but also with people that forget how important it is to eat fresh fruits and vegetable part of their daily diets. Not only do I look forward to sharing this information with you. I look forward to making an impact on your health in the near future. Please feel free to share these daily health bites. I would love to make this a community of not only sharing information on healthy eating, but also a place where people can exchange tasty recipes to incorporate the healthy fresh foods.

Clementines, or Citrus Clementina, are oblate, medium-sized citrus fruits. The exterior is a deep orange colour with a smooth, glossy appearance.


Like tangerines, they are easy to peel, but they lack the seeds.



Clementines are a cross-bred variety of a mandarin (Citrus Deliciosa) and a sweet orange (Citrus Sinensis).



History

The traditional story says that clementines were discovered by Father Clement Rodier in the garden of his orphanage in Misserghin, Algeria. We don’t know for sure whether he has made the cross-breeding intentionally or not, but as he was at the origin of the discovery, the new fruit was named after him. This dates back to the early 20th century.



Cultivation & Production

Clementines, which we find in our markets and supermarkets, are mainly produced in the Mediterranean region (Spain, Morocco, Tunisia). However, at a global level, the largest producer of clementines is China with about 50% of the world production and 11 millions tons (figure comprises the production of clementines, mandarins and tangerines).



Nutritional value & Health benefits

Clementines, as all citrus fruits, are rich in Vitamin C and therefore can be eaten to tackle tiredness. They also contain a large quantity of minerals, such as potassium and calcium, as well as provitamin A.