It was the Spaniards who were responsible for taking both the orange and the lemon to Florida and the West Indies. The first shipments were sent to New York and Philadelphia between 1880 and 1885. For the first time, a market for oranges was developed. Then orange orchards were set out in California, but on a smaller scale than in Florida.
Oranges are believed to be native to the tropical regions of Asia, especially the Malay Archipelago and, along with other citrus species, they have been cultivated from remote ages. Orange culture probably spread from its native habitat to India and the east coast of Africa and from there to the eastern Mediterranean region. The Roman conquests, the development of Arab trade routes, and the expansion of Islam, contributed greatly to their dispersal. By the time Christopher Columbus sailed, Islands. Today oranges are cultivated in subtropical and tropical America, northern and eastern Mediterranean countries, Australia, and South Africa. Oranges thrive best where the trees are chilled somewhat by occasional light frosts in winter.
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Fact File: Orange orchards are generally planted in relatively deep soil where drainage is good. They thrive in a wide range of soil conditions. The world production of oranges is approximately 70,000,000 metric tons annually. |
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