Eat Local Spotlight: Citrus

The phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” holds true when buying Hawaii citrus fruit. Because Hawaii lacks the big swings in temperature that cause citrus fruit to develop its color, the skin of our local citrus is often spotty and less uniform looking than that of Mainland relatives. But don’t let the “ugly” exterior fool you or you will miss out! In fact, Hawaii citrus are sweeter than California citrus– and fresher too!

Here in Hawaii, our local farmers grow a wide variety of citrus — oranges, lemons, limes and tangerines, as well as tangelos, grapefruit, Meyer lemons, pummelo (jabong), calamansi and Buddha’s hand. And Foodland is proud to work with many farmers across the state to bring you the best citrus available in Hawaii. Taste our local citrus alongside mainland imports and you, too, will understand why local mo bettah!

Here are some helpful ways to use local citrus to freshen up:

• Citrus A-peel: Dice citrus peel and run a tablespoon or two through the garbage disposal to fight funky odors.

• Scrub-a-dub-dub: Keep cut halves after you’ve juiced them and put them to use. Sprinkle the cut side liberally with Hawaiian salt and use to scrub the kitchen sink or pans. Citrus oils help cut through the grease and the salt is a non-toxic abrasive that can help bring your stainless steel sink or pans back to a shine.

• Soften Up: To soften the rough skin on your elbows, cut a lemon or grapefruit in half and sit with your elbows propped in each half for five to ten minutes. Then rinse and moisturize!

• Take a Bath: Float sliced citrus in your bathwater. The vitamins and acid will promote healthy skin while the fresh scent will give a boost of energy to your mind, body, and spirit.

• Finishing Touch: Splash a little citrus juice into a pan sauce once you’ve removed it from the heat and just before serving, to add a bright flavor to your favorite dish.