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What killed the Florida orange?

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Re: What killed the Florida orange?

#81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What caused this in Hawaii?

Sugarcane was due to cheaper sources. Pineapples I think was due to economic factors as well. Basically, one of the most isolated population centers in the world adds a lot of cost due to shipping things in and out and being a US state imposes means that labor isn't going to be dirt cheap.

Also Jones Act: ships from Asia can't pick up cargo from Hawaii on the way and drop it in mainland US. This means that shipping between Hawaii and mainland is much more expensive then it needs to be.

Re: What killed the Florida orange?

#82
post #15

This reminds me of the collapse of the Gros Michel banana variety, also due to disease. Near-100% loss of a food crop, even a luxury one, is an alarming thing to see though. (I was wondering if climate change would be mentioned, but that doesn't seem to be critical there yet. Starting to be noticed in European grape terroir.)

Did this banana have seeds!? I've never seen one, but it looks awful. They were actually good?

No, it didn't have seeds either.

Have you ever had "banana flavor" candy that doesn't really taste like bananas? The flavoring is Isoamyl acetate, and I've heard suggestion that people called it banana flavor because it tasted more like Gros Michel. After switching to Cavendish banana the flavor name no longer made as much sense. Not sure how true it is though.

Re: What killed the Florida orange?

#83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did this banana have seeds!? I've never seen one, but it looks awful. They were actually good?

No, it didn't have seeds either. Have you ever had "banana flavor" candy that doesn't really taste like bananas? The flavoring is Isoamyl acetate, and I've heard suggestion that people called it banana flavor because it tasted more like Gros Michel. After switching to Cavendish banana the flavor name no longer made as much sense. Not sure how true it is though.

Someone in the thread linked to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9ZtvpBoXzI, where Hank Green tells this same story... and tries a Gros Michel banana and says it doesn't taste like "banana flavor"

Re: What killed the Florida orange?

#84
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most artificial sweeteners have metabolic side effects, and lead to weight gain. You’re probably better off drinking cane sugar soda because it is more filling than HFCS soda. Anyway orange juice is probably better still. At least it has some vitamin C and maybe trace fiber in it.

> Most artificial sweeteners have metabolic side effects, and lead to weight gain. So does sugar. Everything ever credibly published on the effects of artificial sweeteners say four things: 1) everything else held equal, artificial sweeteners unequivocally reduce weight gain vs consuming equivalent sugar because sugar is 100% empty calories 2) some artificial sweeteners (e.g. sucralose) may increase appetite vs equiv…

Sugar is not just empty calories. Your muscles need glycogen, which is produced from carbohydrates—including sugar—to function.

Simple sugars are particularly effective at restoring glycogen stores after intense cardiovascular workouts.

Re: What killed the Florida orange?

#85

The Florida Orange was NEVER the Florida Orange to begin with. Of note from the story: "...because it came from China, where oranges also came from in the first place." Technically yes but also no, what we have for the modern navel orange came from a mutation that happened in Brazil in the 1800s - 200 years after its introduction from China. The parent trees for literally the entire navel orange (aka Florida aka Sunk…

Makes the disease even more confounding, as one would assume that orange trees evolved alongside it. Normally invasives are destructive because the species has never seen it before.

Re: What killed the Florida orange?

#87

Meta: giving oranges as gifts at Christmas was a bit of a thing in the past when they used to be much more rare during winter: from Valencia/Ivrea for Europeans, and California/Florida in the US. * https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/why-we-should-br... In the US the Interstate system helped reduce shipping and logistic costs across state lines, and so oranges became more prevalent and less 'special' post-WW2…

Tangerines (or satsumas) over Christmas were a treat in the north of England when I was a kid.

Granny Smith and Pink Lady were also considered treats when it came to apples, compared to the usual golden delicious or braeburn.

Re: What killed the Florida orange?

#88

My great uncle got busted for peyote during the Canker Wars because Florida was going around to all the known growers and greenhouses looking for canker. Charges were dropped because they didn’t have a warrant. He also grew legitimate plants.

He sounds like a great uncle!

Re: What killed the Florida orange?

#89
post #88

My great uncle got busted for peyote during the Canker Wars because Florida was going around to all the known growers and greenhouses looking for canker. Charges were dropped because they didn’t have a warrant. He also grew legitimate plants.

He sounds like a great uncle!

Potentially.

Re: What killed the Florida orange?

#90
post #88

My great uncle got busted for peyote during the Canker Wars because Florida was going around to all the known growers and greenhouses looking for canker. Charges were dropped because they didn’t have a warrant. He also grew legitimate plants.

He sounds like a great uncle!

He fought in WW2 but by the time I knew him his mind was gone mostly due to PTSD. I miss my great aunt and uncle
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