Why are oranges so small and expensive this year?

Answer 1

Cuties are small because they are a cross between Regular Oranges and manderine Oranges (which are small).

See Sun Pacific website: http://www.sunpacific.com/cuties.html

=== === * Seedless * Excellent quality * Easy to peel (zipper skin) * Super Sweet * Excellent source of Vitamin C

* Naturally fat, cholesterol, sodium and trans fat free. Check out our nutrition label. * Snack-sized and portable Back in the early 2000's Sun Pacific introduced the Cuties® brand California Clementine from our ranches in the San Joaquin Valley. Already being a Citrus grower since 1969, we understood the fine art of growing excellent quality fruit. Our farming expertise over the last decade led us to plant many acres of these delicious seedless gems. Our orchards still today contain the finest quality Navels, Valencias and Minneola Tangelo and today we also move over 20 million boxes of Cuties® California Clementines a year! A "Cuties® standard" exists within our extensive operation to ensure that superior quality goes into each and every box we pack. Each piece of fruit goes through a rigorous inspection to ensure a good eating quality, high sugar levels and minimal seed content, to be sure it satisfies the grade requirements so that it can be packed under the Cuties® brand. Take a peek at our state-of-the-art Maricopa facility that handles millions of Cuties®. So rest assured you will enjoy an excellent tasting piece of fruit every time! Cuties® are available November through April. The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are the optimum promotion periods to move significant volumes of Cuties®. Make sure Cuties® are on display and ready for consumers to enjoy throughout the entire season! PERIOD One VARIETY Early Clementines TIMING November 1 to Thanksgiving

PERIOD: Two VARIETY: Clemenules TIMING: Thanksgiving to Christmas

PERIOD: Three VARIETY: Clemenules TIMING: Christmas to January

PERIOD: Four VARIETY: Late Mandarins TIMING: January 16 to April 1