It's all about navels.

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The origin of navel oranges can be traced back to a chance mutation that occurred in Brazil in the early 19th century. The story goes like this:

Around 1820, in a monastery garden near the city of Bahia in Brazil, there was a sweet orange tree of the Selecta variety. One day, the gardeners noticed a peculiar and unusual growth at the blossom end of one of the oranges on this tree. This growth resembled a human navel, hence the name "navel orange."

Upon further examination, they discovered that this navel-like growth was actually a small, undeveloped secondary fruit embedded within the larger orange. Unlike regular sweet oranges that contain seeds, the "navel" fruit was seedless and unable to develop into a mature fruit. It was a unique and intriguing mutation.

Recognizing the significance of this mutation, the gardeners propagated the tree through budding and grafting, ensuring that the desirable traits of seedlessness and sweetness would be passed on to new trees. This marked the beginning of the navel orange variety.

Word of the new seedless orange spread, and in 1870, a set of navel orange trees was sent to the United States as a gift to Eliza Tibbets and her husband, who lived in Riverside, California. The Tibbets family carefully nurtured these trees, and they flourished in the Southern California climate. The success of the navel orange in California paved the way for its commercial cultivation and distribution.

It's important to note that the navel orange is a type of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis). The name "navel orange" refers specifically to the unique formation at the blossom end of the fruit. This feature is the result of a genetic mutation, which causes the orange to have a small secondary fruit embedded within it, which is seedless and sterile.

Today, the navel orange is one of the most popular and widely cultivated orange varieties globally. It has become a staple in many regions with suitable climates for orange production. Different navel orange varieties have been developed over time, each with its own distinct flavor and characteristics. The navel orange's history exemplifies the significant role that chance mutations can play in shaping agriculture and influencing the global distribution of desirable plant varieties.

Delicious and refreshing navel orange salad:

Ingredients:

    2 navel oranges, peeled and segmented
    1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
    1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
    1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
    1/4 cup olive oil
    2 tablespoons lemon juice
    1 teaspoon salt
    1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

    In a large bowl, combine the oranges, onion, mint, and feta cheese.
    In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
    Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
    Serve immediately.

Tips:

    For a sweeter salad, use blood oranges instead of navel oranges.
    If you don't have feta cheese, you can use goat cheese or Parmesan cheese instead.
    You can also add other ingredients to the salad, such as chopped walnuts, almonds,
    or dried cranberries.

This salad is a great light lunch or dinner option. It is also a refreshing side dish
for grilled chicken or fish.

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