The Many Uses of the Orange Essay Example

the worldwide output (Christman). It grows best at 30-40 degrees latitude from the equator; a better quality is usually produced when there is a certain measure of cold (Janrick). Oranges prefer a moist, well-drained substrate, with a medium to heavy soil composition. It can grow in both acidic and alkaline soils. It also prefers a sunny environment and cannot grow in the shade (“Citrus sinensis”).

Structure, Function, and Special Adaptations The sweet orange tree is small and compact, with thorny shoots and a rounded symmetrical crown. Its leaves are evergreen, with oblong to elliptic margins, and flourishes all year round. Its flowers, which bloom in spring, are white and are arranged in clusters (Christman). Common features also include “ a superior ovary on a raised disc, transparent [... ] dots on leaves, and the presence of aromatic oils in leaves and fruits” (Janrick). Mode of Reproduction and Propagation Orange blossoms are hermaphrodite, having both male and female reproductive organs.

They are capable of self-pollination, but cross pollination by insects is more common. The seedlings mature slowly, usually taking about 10-15 years. This is why commercial cultivation of oranges usually makes use of grafting (budding) even though they can propagate on their own through nucellular embryony, which is triggered by pollination (Janrick). Cultivars (cultivated varieties) are bud-grafted onto rootstocks of same or related species, by inserting a section of bud-containing bark into the bark of the rootstock (Christman). Primary Orange Products, Processing, and Extraction

Orange fruit is commonly peeled and consumed fresh or is squeezed for its juice. They are primarily grown for the fresh market and its juice used as beverage flavoring (“Citrus

Fruit”). Aside from the fruit and the freshly squeezed juice sold in waxed cartons, the major market now includes frozen orange concentrates and dehydrated orange juice powder used as flavoring in confectioneries or baked goods (Morton). Consumption in the United States is very high, owing in part to the development of the orange juice concentrate, regarded as better than the packaged type (Janrick).

The kind of orange grown depends on its purpose, for example Valencia for juice extraction and the Navel variety for fresh consumption. The fruit can also be processed into other food products such as jams and marmalade (Morton). Marmalade is usually made of Seville oranges, where all of the fruit's parts are used. Orange peels and slices are also made into candies and other confections. Orange blossoms, traditionally regarded as a symbol of good fortune, can also be used in ornamental decorations such as wreaths and bouquets (“Orange”).

The orange blossom honey (also called citrus honey) is a highly prized product derived from beehives placed near plantations which are made by bees that pollinate orange blossoms (“Orange”). The most important orange product is the orange juice. It is processed in various ways which include, freshly squeezed, frozen concentrated, not-from-concentrate, and refrigerated from concentrate. The concentration is measured in brix degrees value which is the amount of solids and the the sugar-acid ratio (“Citrus Fruit“).

Orange By-Products and Chemical Properties Essential oils are produced from the fruit's peel. They are used in the food industry as flavorings, and as fragrance in perfumes, soaps, and other cosmetics. Sweet orange oil also contains d-Limonene which is used in the preparation of household and

industrial cleaning agents. It's environment-friendly properties and pleasant smell makes it preferable to petroleum products (“Orange”). D-Limonene, a source of terpene, can also be used in paints and resins. Wood from orange trees is valuable as furniture, walking-sticks, and other wood items (Morton).

Pectin, collected from the peel's white inner layer is used as a fruit preservative and as a food emulsifier. Citrus pulp pellets, which are by-products of juice extraction are used as animal feed due to its high-protein content. It is also used in making “ edible yeast, non-potable alcohol, ascorbic acid, and hesperidin. ” (Morton) In medicine, oranges are used in dermal preparations used in various skin diseases such as acne. It is also rich in protopectin, bioflavonoids, and inositol, which are used in capillary fragility, hemorrhages, and other troubles in bodily function (Morton).

Recent applications include anti-oxidants and chemical exfoliants (“Citrus sinensis”). Conclusion The orange is one of the the world's most sought-after commodities and plays a big role in the product market. Aside from its importance as a fruit crop consumed as food, it also has many industrial as well as pharmaceutical uses. Citrus fruits are made up of such a wide array of ingredients that further research is needed to find uses for them all. Everything being taken into account, oranges stand one of the most useful and beneficial plants known to man.