And this isn’t a bad thing; Murcotts are juicier, easier to peel, and better tasting than their larger cousins. If they weren’t so darn seasonal, they would more than likely be that mandarin in the five pound box year round.

This week, we will have the first Murcotts of the year out of the Ojai Valley, which is doubly exciting: Murcotts are a great mandarin, and the Ojai Valley is most likely the best place to grow citrus in the world. 

Home to our Kishu mandarins (my favorite,) late-season Pixie Tangerines, and apparently, some great wineries, Ojai is one of the few valleys that runs from east to west, allowing the wind off of the Pacific coast to cool the fruit down at night after a long day of warm sunshine. This adds a pleasant acidity, bright color, and aromatic character to the fruit that other regions of California and other states just can’t provide. We should only have these for a three more weeks or so, so be sure to pick a few up!