2. Mandarins are citrus fruits in the orange family that grow on small citrus trees The mandarin orange is considered a native of south- eastern Asia and the Philippines It is most abundantly grown in Japan, southern China, India, and the East Indies Mandarin trees were brought to the United States in 1878

3. Alabama, Florida and Mississippi are America’s biggest commercial cultivators Mandarin oranges are much more cold-hardy than the sweet orange, and the tree is more tolerant of drought They are available from mid January until April

4. Honey mandarins are small fruits with a bright orange or red-orange peel when ripe The peel is loose and easy to peel to get to the sweet, juicy segments inside Within the segments are small green seeds

5. Mandarin oranges are extremely juicy and are usually eaten out-of-hand They make great snacks on the go! Their sections can be utilized in fruit salads, gelatins, puddings, or on cakes

6. Honey Mandarins are good sources of Vitamins A and C They also contain flavonoids, many of which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and blood clot inhibiting properties, as well as strong antioxidant effects The combination of the high amount of antioxidants and flavonoids in oranges makes it one of the best fruits in helping to promote optimal health

7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandarin_orange http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/mandari n_orange.html#Origin%20and%20Distribution http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/mandari n_orange.html#Origin%20and%20Distribution http://visualrecipes.com/images/sized/1/mandarin- orange-cheesecake/221_image1-590x352.jpg http://visualrecipes.com/images/sized/1/mandarin- orange-cheesecake/221_image1-590x352.jpg http://www.juicing-for-health.com/oranges-health- benefits.html http://www.juicing-for-health.com/oranges-health- benefits.html