NAVELS
Early to Mid-Season Oranges
Description:
Navel oranges are known for their seedless interior, vibrant color, and easy peel. Recognized by the small secondary “navel” at the blossom end, they are highly prized for fresh consumption.
Taste & Quality:
Flavor Profile: Sweet, aromatic, and low in acidity
Brix Level: 11–13.5°
Acidity: 0.7–1.0%
Juice Content: 45–55%
Peel: Thick but easy to peel; bright orange and glossy
Export Advantages:
Naturally seedless — ideal for fresh eating
Maintains excellent visual quality during sea freight
Strong consumer preference in premium markets
Excellent presentation fruit for retail packaging
Botanical / DNA & Cultivar Origin:
Navels are Citrus sinensis (sweet orange) cultivar, resulting from a single mutation in a sweet orange tree (Selecta variety) in Bahia, Brazil in early 1800s. This mutation produced the secondary “navel” fruit under the peel and seedlessness
Origin in South Africa / History:
Navel oranges have been cultivated in SA for many years and form part of early-to-mid seasonal orange production. They are well known in the export portfolio. (Specific first introduction date not clearly documented in the sources reviewed.)
