Product Name: Cara Cara Navel Orange (Red-Fleshed Navel Orange)
Description:
Cara Cara, also known as the Red-Fleshed Navel Orange or Power Orange, is a premium navel orange variety discovered as a spontaneous bud mutation on a Washington navel orange tree at the Hacienda Cara Cara in Valencia, Venezuela, in 1976. It was introduced to China in the late 1980s through the “948” project and has since become a highly sought-after specialty citrus in Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei (Zigui), Jiangxi, and Fujian.
A Navel Orange Unlike Any Other:
The defining feature of Cara Cara is its striking pink-to-red flesh – a color that comes from lycopene, the same antioxidant that gives tomatoes and watermelons their red hue, rather than the anthocyanins found in blood oranges. This gives Cara Cara a unique nutritional profile and a visually stunning appearance that sets it apart from ordinary navel oranges. The flesh is seedless, juicy, and easy to peel, with a clean separation from the rind.
Flavor & Sweetness:
Cara Cara delivers a sweet, low-acid flavor with complex notes of cherry, cranberry, and blackberry. It has a distinctive rose-like aroma and a rich, refreshing taste. Soluble solids content reaches 12%–13.0% Brix, with total sugar of 10.9% and acidity of just 0.81%. The fruit is packed with Vitamin C (591mg/L) and lycopene, offering both exceptional taste and health benefits.
Key Commercial Advantages:
Unique Red Flesh – A visually striking and nutritionally distinct citrus variety
Seedless & Easy to Peel – Convenient for fresh eating, juicing, and fruit platters
Exceptional Storage Life – Stores for 90+ days at room temperature, 4+ months under refrigeration
Premium Market Value – Commands prices up to ¥30 per jin for premium-grade fruit
Early Bearing & High Yield – Grafted trees begin fruiting in year 3, with high fruit set rates
Cold Chain Friendly – Excellent transport tolerance for e-commerce and long-distance logistics
Growing Regions:
Cara Cara is successfully cultivated in Sichuan, Chongqing (Jiangjin), Hubei (Zigui – 24,000 mu, 47,600 tons annually), Jiangxi, and Fujian (Sanming, Fuzhou, Putian) in China. The Zigui production region is particularly renowned for its “Red-Fleshed Navel Orange” brand.
Cultivation Notes:
Climate: Requires annual average temperature above 17.5°C and winter temperatures not dropping below -3°C
Rootstock: Trifoliate orange is recommended; avoid Ponkan as interstock
Soil: Deep, fertile soil with organic matter content above 3% and pH 5.5–6.5
Key Management: Focus on canker disease prevention, fruit thinning, and adequate irrigation during fruit enlargement
Harvest Season:
Mid-to-late December (China) / November to January (California). With its exceptional storage life, Cara Cara can be marketed through January and February, perfectly timed for the Christmas, New Year, and Spring Festival gift markets. A premium red-fleshed citrus that delivers on appearance, flavor, and nutritional value.