6 Facts About Costa Rica Oranges

There are numerous smaller Costa Rica orange farms but commercial production of Costa Rica oranges has been a major factor in the economy for decades. For example, the largest Costa Rica orange production company is Tico Fruit, which produces 75% of all Costa Rica orange juice.

Did you know that you can get your recommended daily intake of Vitamin C with just one single glass of Orange Juice?

Here are six other facts about Costa Rica oranges you may not know:

  1. Orange trees are very sensitive to both cold and frost and need a warmer climate to thrive. Today, orange trees are grown throughout the world including Costa Rica, which has nearly 5 million orange trees.
  2. Costa Rica oranges are an integral part of a typical Costa Rican diet. Other staple items include corn, rice, pineapple, bananas, and other tropical fruits native to the area.
  3. Oranges made their first appearance in the Western Hemisphere as early as the 16th century. The climate of Central America is ideal for growing oranges and other citrus fruits. Costa Rica oranges are an important part of Costa Rica’s economy.
  4. Costa Rica oranges are harvested by hand, which is a very labor intensive process. On smaller Costa Rica orange farms the oranges at the top of the orange trees can only be reached by ladders.
  5. After the oranges are handpicked at the perfect time they are taken to a packing area where they are sorted, washed, labelled, and go through final preparations for exporting.
  6. The primary use of Costa Rica oranges is for creating concentrate. In fact, 40% of all oranges worldwide are used for making concentrate. Oranges may also be made into jam, dried fruit, or marmalade.

Orange Plantations in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a relatively small country. Not unlike the sugar cane plantations, many of the Costa Rica orange plantations are within an hour drive of one of Costa Rica’s larger towns or cities yet they still retain their quiet atmosphere thanks to the isolation of lush vegetation that abounds in this Central American nation.

In fact, most of Costa Rica’s population lives in the central part of the country, where the rich soil is conducive to growing excellent coffee and other agricultural products, including Costa Rica oranges.

Costa Rica is divided into several governmental regions but the geography of the land features distinct areas including the Pacific coast, the lowlands of the east (Caribbean), the northern lowlands and the central highlands.

The orange has been a staple of man’s diet for centuries. Oranges are native to south-eastern Asia, including areas known as Indo-China.

Orange Plantation Tours

Tourism is the number one industry in Costa Rica so it’s not surprising that local orange plantations offer guided tours. Whether or not you are at a local Costa Rica orange plantation the fragrance of the orange fruit lingers in the air. It is not uncommon for visitors to notice the aroma of coffee being processed from some of the nearby coffee plantations, where some of the finest Arabica coffee beans in the world are processed.

Commercial Orange Production

Another Costa Rica orange company is Del Oro, located in the central mountains near Orosi volcano. Del Ora is a major producer of tropical fruit juices in Costa Rica.

Both Costa Rica orange companies Tico Fruit and Del Oro, supplement their orange production by purchasing Costa Rica oranges from some of the smaller orange plantations.

Costa Rica All Inclusive Tours

Current all-inclusive Costa Rica Vacations feature a Coffee Plantation tour and a morning drive North through Costa Rica’s orange and pineapple plantation region. There is also plenty of fresh local food featured in your meals.

Vacation with Caravan Tours and you’ll enjoy 9 full days of fully escorted travel through Costa Rica’s best destinations.

Be sure to check out Caravan’s Costa Rica tour reviews page to read what others have said about Caravan’s fully escorted all-inclusive tour of Costa Rica.

Call toll-free at 1-800-Caravan (227-2826)

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