Citrus Harvest Archives
About the Citrus Harvesting Project
During the spring, LEAF on the UA Campus turns its attention to the citrus trees adorning the grounds. With more than 250 citrus trees on campus, LEAF collaborators, students, and volunteers have the opportunity to harvest citrus fruits growing right above thier heads.
So, which fruits are we looking to harvest? The LEAF project and collaborators are moving beyond just the mouth-puckering citrus you might find in your neighbors backyard.
One of the most abundant and beautiful types of trees on campus is the calomondin lime tree. About the size of a ping-pong ball, calomondin limes offer an alternative to more common citrus fruits.
They are renowned for their edible rind and tangy juice that create an exotic sweet/sour flavor combination that is prized in Asian cuisine.
The edible rind, however, is susceptible to "plugging" or breakage, which gives LEAF interns a chance to develop specialized harvesting techniques for this fragile fruit. Perhaps a more familiar fruit taking the stage for this harvesting project are Seville or "sour" oranges. These oranges are commonly used only for ornamental purposes, but LEAF interns are seeking to show that they are both beautiful to look at and excellent for culinary use.
Although many people find the juice from Seville oranges too sour for snacking, Seville oranges can be used in piquant jams, jellies, marmalades, marinades, and in a variety of Middle Eastern dishes.
LEAF's work with Seville oranges also involves sharing with the community ideas for preserving citrus products along with experts from the Iskashitaa Refugee Network.
Read the lastest story for our March 2015 harvest here.
Citrus Stories:
