Seasons/Availability
Grown locally at Rancho Del Sol in California, Meyer lemons are available beginning in September and possibly stretching their welcomed tasty season into June.
Current Facts
Fresh citrus consumption varies from country to country and has increased dramatically during the past thirty years. World volume is over sixty-two million tons with the United States contributing about seventeen percent of the world’s total.
Description/Taste
A lemon with a delicious twist, Meyer lemons are rounder, juicier and sweeter than common lemons. Medium-sized and thin-skinned, special Meyer lemons are wrapped in a bright yellow rind with an orange blush. Offering a complex lemony flavor like no other, the juicy orangish-yellow flesh is prized for its lower acidic content which allows the Meyer lemon to develop a sweeter taste. Dessert and pastry chefs especially love this unique lemon for its extra rich flavor and dark yellow juice.
Nutritional Value
Cholesterol-free, lemons are a good source of vitamin C. Eating five daily servings of fruits and vegetables lowers the chances of cancer. Studies show that nine or ten daily servings of fruits and vegetables combined with three servings of low-fat dairy products are effective in lowering blood pressure.
Geography/History
Hardy, handsome and productive, the Meyer lemon tree, lemon X mandarin hybrid, was developed from a cross between a lemon and a mandarin, although some sources claim it was possibly an orange. Whatever the parentage, the resulting fruit of this successful blend has created a zesty culinary sensation. Although the trees do prefer neutral to slightly acidic soil, they adapt well to other earthy conditions as long as there is adequate drainage. Loving the rays of the sun, the trees like the soil to be evenly moist during the summer months. Frank Meyer of the United States Department of Agriculture discovered this exceptional lemon near Peking, China, and introduced it into the United States in 1908. Named in his honor, most Meyer lemons in the United States are produced in the Central Valley of California, south of Fresno and in the Sacramento Valley. Also grown in Florida, they are sometimes called Valley lemons in Texas.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
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