The History of Cara Cara Oranges

Cara Cara oranges are named for the place they originated — a farming estate called Hacienda Cara Cara located in one of Venezuela's most fertile farming regions, Valencia. It is not known for sure whether Cara Cara oranges were purposefully bred or if they were the result of natural mutation, but the latter is the generally accepted explanation. Cara Cara oranges were first discovered in 1976 and first became popular in South America before being exported to other parts of the globe. At one point, the Cara Cara, a variation of the Washington navel orange, was crossed with the Brazilian Bahia navel to create the modern version of the fruit. As demand for the hybrid oranges grew, growers in temperate climates all over the world began cultivating them; in the U.S., Cara Cara oranges were first grown in Florida, but many Cara Cara oranges are now grown in California. Despite the strong association between citrus and summertime, Cara Cara oranges are actually a mid-winter fruit and are in season for a relatively brief period of time that typically stretches from December to April. Today, Cara Cara oranges are widely enjoyed for their sweet flavor and reddish-pink hue.