When we think of citrus fruits and vitamin C, the first thing that comes to mind is an orange. Said to have originated in China around 2500 B.C., this succulent and refreshing fruit is packed with more than 170 phytonutrients and more than 60 distinct flavanoids, which have been found to have anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and blood clot reduction.
This fruit is also packed with cartenoids and beta carotene —a pigment in orange and yellow fruits and vegetables which is converted to vitamin A in our body.
According to bewellbuzz.com, cartenoids and beta carotene are beneficial for our immune system “Since vitamin A works hard to battle the free radicals that cause illnesses ranging from colds to even cancer. There are over 10,000 free radicals that attack your cells on a daily basis. Vitamin A fights in free radicals at the cellular level allowing the skin and mucous membranes use vitamin A to stop viruses and bacteria from entering the body. Vitamin A is also effective in regulating the immune system and keeping skin infections at bay.”
Of course, oranges are a good source of vitamin C, which is known as one of the best anti-oxidants.
In the website Bewellbuzz, it says, “Vitamin C, strives to prevent the free radical damage that triggers the onset of inflammation and swelling. Therefore vitamin C may be associated with relief from inflammatory conditions such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Regular consumption of vitamin C delays the development of hardening of the arteries and also boosts the production of two of the skin’s most important proteins, collagen and elastin.”
Aside from vitamin C, a single orange is also rich in magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, calcium and other minerals. These nutrients and minerals are necessary for our bodies to be in optimum health.
According to Natural News, a substance called naringenin, which can be found in all citrus fruits is a kind of bioflavanoid that has the ability to repair DNA damage that may lead to cancer.
Another study, which the Journal of Diabetes published, said naringenin can help the liver to burn more fat, however, the test was only done in mice, which returned to their normal weight after the trial.
Another interesting thing about our favorite citrus fruit is its pith (the white stuff under the peel), which is said to contain a good amount of bioflavanoids and other anti-cancer agents.
An orange is a powerhouse of several vitamins, nutrients and minerals that is why it is one of the most sold fruits in the market worldwide today.
Pinoys’ love for citrus produce is evident with the numerous fruits that are sold in the market, from our own calamansi, dalandan and suha to imported ponkan, mandarin, grapefruit and of course oranges.
One of the leading importers of oranges in the country today is Australia.
Australia is known for its very sweet, juicy, and seedless navel oranges. According to Nathan Hancock, Citrus Quality and Market Information Manager, Citrus Australia, the trade relations between the Philippines and Australia is stronger and better as both countries find ways and means to give the consumers quality, yet affordable products.
Hancock has worked in the horticulture industry for 17 years and the citrus industry for the past 10 years beginning in Western Australia where he was the industry development officer for the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia.
Since commencing with Citrus Australia in 2011 Hancock has been instrumental in the adoption of new maturity and quality standards in the national industry and has been the driver behind improved industry statistics including the citrus tree census, national plantings database, production forecast model and the online export application system.
Hancock stressed that Australian citrus are free from harmful chemical because their pollution-free farms adhere to strict standards of food safety. He also added that Australia ensured that all oranges that get to the Philippines are sweet, safe and healthy.
He also noted that aside from the support of the Australian government if gives to their farmers, the advance technology they are using in their farm lands help them produce the best citrus fruits, which are imported to most parts of the world.
Hancock added that every batch of oranges shipped to the Philippines from Australia is tracked starting from the farm to the packing house to the ship that carries them to the Philippines.
Australia has about 28,000 hectares of land to cultivate and with at least 1,800 citrus fruits growers who are mostly families. Citrus fruits are grown in almost all parts of mainland Australia. Most are grown in Riverland in the south; Murray Valley in Victoria and New South Wales, and Riverina in New South Wales.
Hancock added that though there are other importers of citrus fruits to the Philippines, the Australian citrus have solid followers in the country even if they are priced a little higher than those from China and other countries.
With the good trade relations between the two countries, Australian citrus produce will surely be around in the market for a very long time and they will introduce more products for Filipino consumers in the coming years.
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