Honey Mandarins (available now from Pittman & Davis) may be small, but they have huge flavor! About the size of a golf ball, these round, orange-colored beauties may resemble the ubiquitous navel orange (and indeed, both fruits are descendants of the mandarin orange), but they have a unique flavor all their own. The honey mandarin boasts a flavor sweeter than other citrus fruits because it’s lower in acid (meaning it’s easier on the stomach) and has a taste reminiscent of spiced honey. Their small sections and honey-sweet flavor are what make honey mandarin oranges a go-to citrus for salads…
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Continue ReadingFresh from the Sunbelt: As we approach the end of our Honey Mandarin season, the internal quality is at it’s peak. We’ll be harvesting for just a few more weeks. They are eating very well and internal color is a rich, deep orange. We’re also very happy with the size this year as they are a little larger than what we’ve seen recently.
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Continue ReadingWith April upon us winter citrus season is fast coming to an end. But you still have time to enjoy healthy, juicy citrus treats when you order through Pittman & Davis…we’re delighted to announce that our best-selling Honey Mandarins are now available! What are Honey Mandarin Oranges? Before getting into what makes a fruit a Honey Mandarin, it might be useful to know more about mandarins as a whole. The mandarin (also known as the mandarin orange) is one of the original citrus species (along with the citron, a lemon-like fruit, and the pomelo, a grapefruit-like fruit) from which…
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Continue ReadingThe best time to buy fruit is when it’s in season because that’s when you’re sure to get the best, tastiest, healthiest fruit available. Eating in-season produce provides more nutrition and more flavor. When you buy fruit boxes from Pittman & Davis, you can be sure that the fruit inside was allowed to ripen naturally. That’s because we know that fruits that are allowed to naturally ripen on the tree and harvested at the proper time have much more flavor and nutrition. Produce that’s not in season undergoes early picking, cooling, and heating that reduces the flavor. In-season fruits…
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Continue ReadingFresh fruit baskets from Pittman & Davis are packed with delicious fruits of all kinds – citrus fruit, orchard fruits, drupes and more. But those aren’t the only classifications. Another category of fruits are labeled multiple and aggregate fruits. But how do we distinguish between these two types? When you send fruit baskets to loved ones, you might know already that the fruits in them come from the flowers of plants – that’s true of all fruits. The flower is the reproductive structure of a plant, and once fertilized, the ovaries mature into fruits. While all fruits have that…
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Continue ReadingDo berries count as fruit? That may seem like a strange question…after all, berries fit the generalized definition of fruit, i.e. the sweet, fleshy, seed-holding structure of a flowering plant. So why would there be any question about it? What springs to mind when you hear the word, “fruit?” If you’re like many Americans you’ll think first of the fruits commonly found in your local produce section or in popular fruit gift boxes from Pittman & Davis: Navel Oranges, Grapefruits, Apples, and Pears. You might also think of common fruits you can buy locally that our fruit baskets do…
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Continue ReadingDid your mom ever give you a glass of orange juice at the first sign of the sniffles? It’s commonly believed that citrus fruit combats colds, but the notion that drinking lots of orange juice will prevent a cold that’s already started from getting worse, or will shorten the amount of time you’re sick, is false. (Though it’s true that drinking plenty of fluids while ill replenishes fluids lost through fever sweats, runny noses, and diarrhea, and staying hydrated makes it easier for your blood to circulate, which in turn allows your white blood cells to fight off a…
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Continue ReadingNeed even more reasons to order gift fruit baskets or fruit trays from Pittman & Davis? A recently completed study suggests that eating fresh fruit (like the sweet grapefruits found in our fresh fruit baskets) daily may lower your risk of having a stroke or heart attack. It’s well-known that a healthy diet (one including fruit like citrus, grapefruit and more) can reduce your risk of a number of chronic diseases. The USDA recommends adults who exercise less than 30 minutes daily eat one-and-a-half to 2 cups of fruit each day, but fewer than 14% of Americans are doing…
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Continue ReadingSome people who are concerned about diabetes aren’t sure about fruit as a snack because they’re worried that grapefruits, oranges, apples, and other fruits are too high in natural sugars. The truth is that some fruits, like grapefruit, are great for diabetics. In addition to many other health benefits, the citrus grapefruit actually helps to control sugar levels in the body. Low in carbohydrates and high in both water and fiber, a large grapefruit goes far toward improving the function of many of the body’s different organs. How is Grapefruit Good for Diabetes? Insulin is a hormone produced in…
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Continue ReadingMinerals help keep us healthy by giving us energy, keeping our bones strong, maintaining our body’s fluids, supporting our cellular health, and boosting our immunity. Some of the different minerals our bodies require in a variety of amounts include calcium, potassium phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, chloride, sulfur, manganese, zinc, copper, iodine, cobalt, selenium, and fluoride. It’s been estimated that over half of all Americans take some kind of supplement to support health, but research shows that the best way to get our nutrients is by consuming them as food – especially in the form of fresh fruits and veggies. You…