One of the nicest thing about living in California is the generous amount of fresh produce available all year. And this time of year we have lots of oranges, clementines and grapefruits.

When I first saw the Blood oranges, I hesitated because the name was not so appealing. Then I remember the last time I had oranges with similar dark colors were Cara Cara navel oranges. And they were really one of the best oranges I’ve ever tasted.

Check out the color!  The color inside reminds me of beets or maybe ripen raspberries.  The fruit taste bit tart, but it’s still really good.

Blood oranges contain the highest amount of antioxidants due to the bright color. Anthocyanins provide the deep color and can also be found in many dark color fruits such as blueberries or acai berries.

Wikipedia writes:

“Blood oranges may have originated in either China or the Southern Mediterranean, where they have been grown since the 18th century. They are now the primary orange grown in Italy.

The anthocyanins which give the orange its distinct maroon color will only develop when temperatures are low at night, as during the Mediterranean fall and winter. In U.S., Blood oranges are cultivated in Texas and California.”

Health Benefits of Blood oranges from Cooking Light:

“Rich in antioxidants―vital for healthy cells―including vitamin C, which aids in healing, boosts your immune system, helps your body absorb iron, and even helps reduce the risk of cancer. This citrus fruit is also a good source of fiber, which helps lower cholesterol and, like vitamin C, reduce your cancer risk. (To maximize your fiber intake, be sure to eat some of the spongy white pith right under the skin.)”

It’s a good thing these fruits are available this time of year with all the sneezing and coughing everywhere.

I found the California “Blood Oranges” at Trader Joe’s for $2.99 per 2 lb bag. Trader Joe makes buying produce easy because there’s no scale to weight them and everything is sold in bags or per piece.

Last week I found the best tasting pummelo for only $1.50 each. I went back this week and they were all gone! So I better pick up more Blood oranges before they disappear too.

Instead of tomatoes, I substituted with Blood orange. So I made organic spinach salad topped with eggs, raw walnuts, Blood oranges and simple olive oil with apple cider vinegar dressing. Very nutritious and satisfying salad.

These organic spinach were only $1.99 for a big bunch sold at Nob Hill/Raley’s. They are about the few supermarket that carry organic produce with prices better than Whole Foods.