"oranges" news and stories

With Valentine's Day a week away, it seems even the produce aisle is tickled pink.

Set against a vibrant pink backdrop, these tangy blood oranges need no recipe to make their juicy flesh even more dazzling: Au naturel is the way to go.

With Groundhog Day predicting six more weeks of winter, the citrus fruits' warm-colored cascade from crimson to orange is sure to brighten up the harshest of the winter doldrums.

Become a member of the Slashfood Flickr pool to get a shot of having your photos featured in Feast Your Eyes.

This photo, taken by Audreyjm529 over at Flickr, does more for citrus than any ill-fated product redesign could ever hope to. It's bright, beautiful and so vibrant that you can practically smell the ambrosial scent of lemons and oranges wafting from your computer screen. Prolonged exposure to this picture may cure everything from Vitamin C deficiency to Seasonal Affective Disorder; side effects may include uncontrollable giddiness and a silly grin. Proceed without caution.

[Via Flickr]

Is a dish lacking something you can't pinpoint? Try a tiny bit of salt if you must, but don't forget the secret weapon tucked in the fridge or lolling on the counter.

PepsiCo, feeling the (ever warmer) winds of change ruffle its hair, has decided to be proactive in measuring its own carbon emissions. Its test case is orange juice - how much does a glass of Tropicana contribute to global warming?

The company hired experts to measure emissions in every part of the orange juice-making process: Fertilizing the field, transporting orange cartons, running the factory. Turns out, growing is the single biggest source of emissions, as the nitrogen fertilizer used on citrus groves needs a lot of natural gas to make, and turns into a greenhouse gas when spread on the fields.

The final number? About 3.75 pounds of carbon dioxide are emitted for each half-gallon carton of orange juice.

While that statistic is fairly meaningless without any context, the fact that PepsiCo is calculating its carbon emissions means that other corporations are likely to follow in its footsteps. And as emissions numbers become more widely known, consumers will be able to choose to buy products from companies that make a concentrated effort to reduce their footprints.

Check out the original New York Times article for a slideshow on tracking the carbon footprint of the orange.

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This particular edible gift suggestion is designed especially for those among you who love food but hate to cook. Buy a unique or charming bowl or basket (if you're gift-giving on the cheap, I suggest hitting thrift stores for your vessel) and then filling it with mandarin oranges. Don't buy a pre-packed bag or box when prepping for these gifts, as often you'll find some rotten fruit in with the good ones. Instead, spend a few minutes sorting through the display at your grocery store, hand selecting the best fruit. For a more visually interesting offering, get several different kinds of citrus. Tie an old-fashioned cloth ribbon (or a handmade cloth napkin, if you want to get fancy) around the bowl for added holiday cheer.

For more of our edible gift suggestions, click on the image below.