Citrus Trees

The tangerine and mandarin (Citrus reticulata) are a species of small tree native to southern China. The fruits of this species are similar to those of the sweet orange, but they are generally smaller, their rind is much easier to separate from the interior pulp, and the segments separate more readily.

Compared with the sweet orange, the tangerine and mandarin do not store very well. As a result, these citrus fruits tend to be sold fairly close to where they are grown, and less of a long-distance export market exists for these crops. However, in some countries a tradition has developed of eating mandarin oranges at certain festive times of year. For example, North Americans and many western Europeans often eat mandarins around Christmas time. Because a premium price can be obtained for these fruits during the Christmas season, there is a well organized market that keys on about a one-or-two month export market for mandarins during that festive season.