Orange trees originated in China but have been grown in Europe and North America for over 100 years. Citrus is a subtropical genus and must be planted in a sunny, wind-protected area. Because of our location in California’s secret desert, Desert Star Farms orange trees are in a wind-protected area, yielding ripe, juicy oranges in prime season.
Chock full of nutrients, oranges are a rich source of Vitamin C, over 100% daily value per orange, Vitamin B1, Potassium, Vitamin A and even Calcium! In recent research studies, oranges have been found to have healing properties associated with a wide variety of phytonutrient compounds. And most importantly, Desert Star Farm oranges are delicious!
A Tangelo is a hybrid between grapefruit and mandarin orange. The first known crosses were made by Dr. Walter T. Swingle at Eustis, Florida, in 1897, and Dr. Herbert J. Webber at Riverside, California, in 1898. They are so unlike other citrus fruits that they have been set aside in a class by themselves designated as Citrus X tangelo.
Tangelos range from the size of a standard sweet orange to the size of a grapefruit, but are usually somewhat necked at the base. The pulp is colorful, subacid, of fine flavor and very juicy. Nutritionally, they are very similar to the orange as a very high source of Vitamin C. Tangelos are not commonly grown in California but here at Desert Star Farms we are changing that trend
Lemons are more sensitive to cold than all other citrus trees. Due to this cold sensitivity, Desert Star Farms is an ideal climate for growing lemons because temperatures are moderate year-round and never cold.
The origin of the lemon is a mystery, though it is thought that lemons first grew in Southern India, northern Burma, and China. A study of the genetic origin of the lemon reported that it is a hybrid between sour orange and citron. The first substantial cultivation of lemons in Europe began in Genoa in the middle of the 15th century. The lemon was later introduced to the Americas in 1493 when Christopher Columbus brought lemon seeds to Hispaniola on his voyages. Spanish conquest throughout the New World helped spread lemon seeds. It was mainly used as an ornamental plant and for medicine. In the 19th century, lemons were increasingly planted in Florida and California.