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The
orange
growing
industry
in
Spain
has
been
established
for
many
centuries
and
in
some
areas
the
factories
and
plantations
are
of
huge
proportions.
The
company
that
we
visited
was
a
reasonably
small
business
yet
they
supplied
fresh
oranges
to
much
of
Europe.
They
also
supply
fresh
orange
juice
for
wholesale.
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The oranges are grown in the fields in long rows from which they are collected and loaded into crates. They are then transported to the factory where they are tipped into a large vat from which they are fed into the conveyor system.
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At
the
same
time
the
oranges
are
washed
with
water
and
chlorine. |
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After
being
washed,
the
oranges
are
fed
into
the
factory
where
a
special
machine
grades
them,
according
to
size.
They
are
graded
into
three
sizes
at
this
stage
by
an
electronic
machine
that
can
detect
the
slightest
difference
in
size. |
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| Pictured right, the graded oranges then pass through a wax wash process where natural elements are used to give the oranges a shine and help preserve them through transport. All through the process the oranges are constantly inspected by staff who remove oranges that are marked or not up to the top standard. All those that are rejected for market are sent to the pulp factory. The oranges then pass through a dryer. |
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The
oranges
are
then
sent
along
the
conveyor
to
be
packed
into
boxes.
This
factory
had
several
options
for
presentation
including
loose
in
crates,
arranged
in
cushioned
boxes
or
weighed
by
machine
and
bagged
in
nets. |
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Pictured
right
is
the
fully
automated
process
of
weighing,
bagging
and
labelling.
All
those
oranges
that
are
not
sent
for
market
are
turned
into
fresh
orange
juice.
Once
the
juice
has
been
squeezed
from
the
oranges
it
is
then
pasteurised
at
92º
for
20-22
seconds
and
pumped
into
storage
tanks
(pic
below)
where
it
is
kept
in
a
vacuum
at
1º-2º
for
up
to
four
months. |
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For
the
second
grade
juice,
2,000kg
of
fruit
produces
5,000ltrs
of
juice.
The
three
most
common
varieties
of
orange
produced
here
are
Salustania,
a
large,
round
orange,
the
Navelate
which
is
the
medium
sized
orange
(Navel
orange
in
the
UK)
and
the
Sanguineli
which
is
the
red
variety
(Blood
orange
in
the
UK).
The
orange
industry
practically
functions
most
of
the
year
although
many
close
for
August.
Clementine
oranges
are
harvested
in
September,
ready
for
Christmas. |
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We
were
kindly
given
a
personal
tour
by
the
manager
at
the
Corijo
Mimbrales
who
explained
to
us
that
they
sometimes
struggle
to
sell
to
the
UK
market
as
the
British
buyers
are
very
fussy.
They
will
only
buy
oranges
that
are
perfectly
round
and
have
a
good,
shiny
skin.
The
wax
coating
helps
achieve
this. |
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