‘Tis the season for citrus! Among the sea of oranges, tangerines and grapefruit, one  variety shines very bright among your vast choices. The Cara Cara Navel orange, a cross between the Washington Navel and the Brazilian Bahia Navel is an attractive, popular and delicious variety we can’t get enough of. Cara Caras are very new to the classic citrus scene and were first discovered in 1976 at the Hacienda La Cara Cara in Valencia, Venezuela on a Washington Navel tree. From Venezuela, this unusual variety was introduced to Florida and then California, where it has adapted very well. 

Though similar in appearance to Navel oranges on the outside, Cara Caras are uniquely different with jewel-toned pink-red colored flesh (similar to pink grapefruit coloring). Cara Caras are seedless, have little to no pith and separate easily from the rind. Their aromatic flavor is low in acid and richly sweet with notes of berries. Enjoy as a fresh snack or add to your yogurt or atop a salad! The juice is wonderful in a citrus vinaigrette or a sweet marinade for fish or poultry. 

Not only are Cara Caras delicious, they have plenty of immunity boosters to fight off winter colds. They are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, fiber, potassium, and folate. The heart-healthy antioxidant lycopene gives the flesh its distinct pink-red color. Try adding signage to your displays to direct customers looking for nutrient-rich foods! 

Cara Caras bring a much-appreciated pop of color to the cold winter, nor can their flavor be beat; they are truly a staff favorite at VV. 

New & Exciting!

Blood Orange (left): Complex and rich. Sweeter than a typical Navel, slightly tangy and less acidic, with a hint of berry flavor. 

Dancy Tangerine: Sweet and tart flavor, with hints of spice. This variety has a distinctive tangerine flavor and aroma and is very versatile. Add to salads or eat raw; use the rind for a rich, powerful zest.   

Fuerte Avocado (right): Coming soon! Green-skin winter variety with extremely rich and nutty flavor; sweeter and fruitier than Hass. Fuerte’s thin skin stays green even when ripe. Often considered the avocado aficionado’s favorite variety, this crop comes off trees in Southern California that are over 100 years old!  

Fun Fact: This fruit can withstand cold temperatures, hence the name Fuerte, meaning ‘strong’ in Spanish.  

Green Seedless Grape: Peruvian fruit is starting! Red seedless are still a few weeks out. 

Lee Nova Tangerine: a relatively new hybrid! Rich, sweet, and bursting with juice.  Seedless, reddish-orange fruit with a thin rind that makes for easy peeling.    

Passionfruit: AKA Lilikoi  is back in good supply from Foothill Organics, grown in the Santa Barbara area of Central California. 

Tommy Atkins Mango: Juicy with mildly sweet flavor. Dark red-blushed skin, with green and orange or yellow highlights.  Squeeze flesh lightly to determine ripeness! 

Promotable 

Apple: Great volume deals on Cosmic Crisp, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Pink Lady.

Bunched Broccoli (right): Steady supply with promotable pricing on this winter staple.

Cauliflower: Delicious, nutritious and oh-so versatile. From crudité to cauliflower rice and pizza crust, this sweet brassica does it all! Check out cheddar cauliflower (orange) and purple cauliflower to round out a colorful display! 

Comice Pear (left): Sweet, buttery and creamy. Excellent for eating out of hand, paired with cheese. Oregon-grown supply is plentiful. With incredible delicate texture, Comice are the pear lovers’ fruit of choice!

Green Kiwi: Plenty of small sized fruit available from local farm, Wild River. Add to winter fruit salads for a pop of color or cut in half and enjoy with a spoon!  

Ruby Grapefruit: Beloved for its beautiful pinkish-red flesh and juicy, sweet, and tangy flavor, this variety is one of the most popular grapefruits in the USA. Strong and steady supply from B&J Ranch, an exclusive VV grower in California’s Coachella Valley. Great promotable item for shoppers looking to kick start healthy eating for the year! 

Limited 

Acorn Squash: local is over, and Mexican imports are ripening slowly. 

Brussels Sprouts 

Cherry Tomato: All varieties expected to be limited for the next couple weeks. 

English Hot House Cucumber: Extremely limited 

Herbs:   Basil, Chives and Oregano are limited 

Kabocha Squash 

Little Gem Lettuce 

Parsnip: California-grown parsnip is gapping due to rainy weather. 

Stueve Eggs: Expected to gap for 1-2 months. The hens are laying 15% of the expected volume for this time of year. It’s cold outside and these hens are free range! 

Watercress 

Done for the Season 

Pomegranate 

Persimmon 

Quince 

Produce Resources 

Apple Variety Guide 

Pear Variety Guide  

Winter Squash Variety Guide 

Citrus Variety Guide 

B&J Ranch Profile Sign 

Citrus Shelf Talkers 

Merchandising Corner 

Merchandising for New Year Resolutions 

The new year means new resolutions! Expect customers to flood your produce department to kick off their new diet, cleanse, juice fast and resolution to eat healthier. Here are some tips to prepare for customer demand and maximize sales: 

Fresh-Cut: Fresh-cut items are convenient for customers looking to make quick healthy meals. Bagged pre-trimmed green beans, broccoli and cauliflower florets or ready-cooked beets are delicious time-savers. 

Juicing: Stock up on popular juicing produce items such as apples, citrus, cucumbers, celery, ginger, turmeric, carrots, beets, spinach and kales. The Master Cleanse is a juice cleanse that has gained popularity in recent years. This is a liquid cleanse that consists of fresh squeezed lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. Prepare for high volume on lemons and try cross merchandising jugs of organic maple syrup and shakers of cayenne close to your lemon display. Celery juice is another very popular health trend that has been seemingly everywhere. Put up recipe and informational cards near popular juicing items. 

Recipes: Newly resolved shoppers are highly receptive to your product suggestions. This is the perfect time of year for have recipes sprinkled throughout the department. Meatless meals that focus on winter squash, potatoes and mushrooms are great suggestions. Jump on the ever-growing trend for plant-based diets! Quick, easy smoothie recipes using seasonal produce are a good way to feature specific items.  

Citrus: With winter, comes cold and flu season. Citrus is an excellent source of immune-boosting vitamin C. We are just starting citrus season, so provide a great selection of oranges, mandarins and grapefruits so your customers can take preventative measures to stay healthy. Put up educational shelf-talkers on the health benefits of citrus. 

This is the best time of year to win over new shoppers. Show off your best customer service skills and retain shoppers with your offerings for the New Year.