From ruby grapefruit to Key limes, the number of citrus fruits is huge. Hundreds of varieties and subspecies grow throughout the tropics and subtropics. Add the endless number of hybrids for an unwieldy category, as well as the largest fruit industry.
Citrus plants are small evergreen trees or shrubs, which originated in China and Southeast Asia. The primitive citron was the original citrus fruit. Today these fruits grow throughout the world, wherever there’s ample moisture and little or no frost. Brazil and the United States are the world’s largest citrus producers. Most of that fruit is processed rather than eaten out of hand.
Storage: Store them in a dark, cool (50 to 65 degree) pantry.
from Rebecca Wood's The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia |
