“There’s the genus Citrus, subfamily Aurantioideae, in the plant family called Rutaceae,” said UC-Riverside botanist Tracy Kahn. A variety of tangerines on a kitchen counter. Let’s start with the science of seedless tangerine, sometimes called mandarins or clementines. And he asked: “How this went from being a specialized item at the holidays, to something that is kind of like a dime a dozen.” He said they’re cheap, sometimes tasteless and tough. His discount grocer sells five-pound bags of seedless tangerines year-round. He shared this memory: “When I was growing up, it was always a treat around the holiday season to get these small oranges, kind-of nicely packaged, nested in the box, and fairly pricey.”īut Peters said that sweet nostalgia has turned a bit sour lately. Marketplace listener Rick Peters is 73, retired, and lives in Frederick, Maryland. Ever wondered if recycling is worth it ? Or how store brands stack up against name brands? Check out more from the series here. This is just one of the stories from our “I’ve Always Wondered” series, where we tackle all of your questions about the world of business, no matter how big or small.

Cuties brand oranges