Bonnie: For every meal while in Zanzibar (Tanzania) last month, we were offered aAfrica_fruit.jpg selection of juicy fresh fruit: mangoes, passion fruit, papaya, watermelon, baby bananas, jackfruit and super-sweet pineapple, with none of the astringency found in ours — and fresh juices made from these fruits, too.

I arrived back in the States and immediately went into fruit withdrawal. February just isn’t the best month for fresh fruit in New England. Oh, there are always apples, pears and grapes, which are better in the fall. But nothing on my supermarket shelves compares with those succulent tropical fruits. Yes, clementines are still available, but it’s almost at the end of their season (which usually lasts until February).

What I’m now looking forward to are Ojai Pixie Tangerines, a fruit so sugary sweet they’re almost like candy. We’re telling you about these today so that you’ll keep an eye out for them. They may be on the market now, but wait until March to buy them. That’s when Pixies are at their peak for flavor and juiciness, and are until about June. They’re seedless, sweet and not at all acidic.

According to Robert Schueller, marketing director for Melissa’s World Variety Produce, at one time these Pixies were known only as a “local or backyard fruit” in the small town of Ojai, California. They’re now available nationally.

I’d like to end by sharing a citrus fruit buying tip, one that doesn’t really apply to Pixies, as they’re sold packaged. When selecting any citrus fruit (lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, etc.), choose the heaviest one for its size, as it will be the juiciest.

Bryan: Growing up the son of a food writer has its perks but also its drawbacks when that food writer is a nutritionist as well. Junk food was not a prevalent feature of my youth (read ‘not prevalent’ as ‘nonexistent’). The lunch table for me was a trading-post nightmare; nobody would swap carrot sticks for Cheetos despite my pointing out their similar size, shape, and color. Banana chips replaced potato chips, turkey sandwiches trumped peanut butter and fluff. I still remember eating breakfast at my friend’s house. That first bowl of Cocoa Crisps was like someone had fed me chocolate ice cream for breakfast (God, is this how the other side lives, I wondered). Cupcakes for some, fruit for others. That is how I came to love the clementine, a usual suspect of my lunchbox. I was never a big fan of oranges; too much effort and peeling and seeds and rind and juice all over. All became right in the citrus world when I found clementines; an amazing snack, great flavor and none of the hassle of oranges. My brother and I would eat them by the case, piling rinds like poker chips. I was only recently introduced to the Pixie tangerine. It’s quite a different flavor, sweeter and less tangy than a tangerine with all the same great attributes of my little clementine. It’s a natural extension of citrus enjoyment and a whole new season of fruit to enjoy.

P.S – I actually LOVE banana chips.

Eric: As I sit here and write this I close my eyes and think about how many crates of clementines I’ve eaten over my lifetime (again this is only a span of nearly 24 years). Citrus are one of my favorite fruit groups, and the “orange” family – the color, not the actual fruit – are my favorite. How many times have I tried to peel a Clementine in one go? How many times have I succeeded? How many arguments have I had with friends about what a true Clementine is, and how it’s different than a tangerine…

Now I say, welcome to the world of miniatures…a trend that has emerged over the past few years in many forms of production, especially in and throughout the myriad supermarket aisles overflowing with new food products. The majority of today’s modern consumers desire the smallest possible product packed-full with every possible advantage. Case-in-point: Pixies. These miniature creations pack the punch of a ripe Clementine in the size of a large grape, and only require half the peeling time (and most of the time I can do it in one go). Simply, these things are delicious.