It's all about navels.

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The history of navel oranges is quite fascinating and can be traced back to a chance mutation that occurred centuries ago. The navel orange is a type of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and is named for the small, undeveloped second fruit that protrudes from its blossom end, resembling a human navel. This "navel" is actually a tiny secondary fruit that doesn't contain seeds and cannot develop into a full fruit.

The origin of the navel orange can be traced back to Brazil in the early 19th century. It is believed that the first navel orange tree emerged as a spontaneous mutation from a seedling of the Selecta orange variety (a sweet orange cultivar). The specific date of the discovery is uncertain, but it is generally believed to have been around 1820.

The unique characteristic of seedlessness made the navel orange a highly sought-after and popular fruit. In 1870, a set of navel orange trees was sent from Brazil to the United States as a gift to Eliza Tibbets of Riverside, California. The climate in Southern California proved to be ideal for growing the navel oranges, and the trees thrived in this new environment.

Eliza Tibbets and her husband nurtured the trees, and their success led to the rapid propagation and distribution of navel orange trees throughout California. The commercial success of the navel orange industry in California began in the late 19th century and contributed significantly to the state's agricultural growth.

The navel orange's popularity also spread to other parts of the world, and it became one of the most cultivated orange varieties globally. Different regions with suitable climates began cultivating navel oranges, including parts of Europe, South America, South Africa, and Australia.

Over the years, through careful cultivation and breeding, various navel orange varieties have been developed, each with its own unique taste and characteristics. Today, navel oranges are widely enjoyed around the world and are a popular choice for fresh consumption due to their sweet, seedless, and easy-to-peel nature.

The success of the navel orange is a testament to the role of chance mutations in shaping agriculture and the way in which humans have selectively cultivated and distributed desirable plant varieties to suit different climates and tastes.

 Navel Orange Glazed Chicken:

Ingredients:

    4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
    2 navel oranges
    2 tablespoons olive oil
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    1/4 cup honey
    2 tablespoons soy sauce
    1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
    Salt and pepper to taste
    Fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

    Start by preparing the marinade. Zest both navel oranges and set aside the zest.
    Squeeze the juice from the oranges into a bowl.

    In a separate bowl, combine the orange juice, olive oil, minced garlic, honey, soy sauce,
    grated ginger, salt, and pepper. Whisk well to combine.

    Place the chicken breasts in a shallow dish or zip-top bag and pour the marinade over them,
    reserving a small amount for basting. Make sure the chicken is well coated. Marinate in the
    refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for maximum flavor.

    Preheat your grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Make sure the grates are clean and
    lightly oiled to prevent sticking.

    Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the remaining marinade. Grill the chicken
    until done.

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