| Cara Cara navel orange | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Species | Citrus × sinensis |
| Cultivar | 'Cara Cara' |
| Marketing names | Power Orange |
| Origin | Hacienda de Cara Cara |
TheCara Cara navel orange, orred-fleshed navel orange, is an early-to-midseasonnavel orange noted for its pinkish-to-reddish-orange flesh.
It is believed to have developed as a spontaneous bud mutation on a "standard" Washington navel orange tree.[1][2][3][4] Abotanical sport discovered at the Hacienda Caracara inValencia, Venezuela, in 1976,[4][5] the cara cara appears to be of such uncertain parentage as to occasionally warrant the distinction of amutation, with only the tree on which it was found—the Washington navel—being an accepted progenitor. Cara Caras did not enter the U.S consumer produce market until the late 1980s[6] and were carried only by specialty markets for many years thereafter.[7]
This medium-sized navel isseedless,sweet and low in acid - characterized by little to nopith and easy, clean separation from the rind.
Unlike in trueblood oranges, where the main pigmentation is due toanthocyanins, pigmentation in Cara Cara oranges is due tocarotenoids, such aslycopene.[1][2]
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From the major growing regions,South American Cara Caras are ready for market starting in August, whereas Venezuelan fruits arrive in October and California fruits make their seasonal debut in late November and are available through April.
