A4  PALO VERDE VALLEY TIMES, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018
February’s
harvest of the
month: oranges
BY CATHYLEEN RICE
TIMES REPORTER
They’re the perfect
juicy snack to enjoy year
round and usually you
can find them stacked
next to the lemons and
the limes.
As the perfect source
of Vitamin C, oranges,
which are said to be
one of California’s
most prominent winter
crops, are a round citrus
fruit with pulpy yet
edible flesh.
Growing in sunshiny
places like California,
Florida and Mexico,
oranges grow on
evergreen trees, which
are able to thrive in
warm, subtropical to
semi-tropical climates,
according to the
California Department
of Public Health’s
booklet, “Harvest of the
Month.”
Considered a berry
because they have so
many seeds, oranges are
said to be close cousins
to lemon and limes, as
they all derivatives from
a single ovary and are
interbreedable.
Originating in
Southeast Asia, the
hybrid fruit is now
imported and exported
from the U.S., between
countries like China,
India, Spain, Egypt
and Brazil, with Brazil
named as the world-
leading producer of
oranges, growing nearly
30 percent.
According to a tourist
webpage named See
California, “California
oranges are [the] [six]
th most valuable export
with bulk going to
Canada, South Korea,
China and Japan.
Only about 10 percent
are exported to other
countries and 90 percent
used domestically, [with]
oranges ranking seventh
among commodities in
California [and] milk,
grapes [and] almonds,”
ranking as the top three.
Although they come in
a variety of sizes, each
species of oranges have
different appeals about
them.
California grown
oranges for an example,
are usually navel or
sweet, pulpy seeded,
whereas in other
regions, blood oranges,
clementines, mandarin
and/or Valencia oranges
are produced.
The consumption
of any kind of orange
provides the body
with fiber, folate and
vitamins, which in turn
helps create healthy
blood cells that helps
lowers one’s risk of
having serious health
problems. Dr. Joseph
Mercola, an alternative
medicine and
osteopathic physician
said, it’s no surprise that
pvvt.com
the greatest nutritional
appeal of the orange is
its vitamin C content,
comprising 165 percent
of the recommended
daily value in a one-cup
serving.
“This is important
for fighting off germs
that cause colds and
flu, and even builds
your resistance to
infection. Potassium is
an important component
of cell and body fluids
that helps control
heart rate and blood
pressure. Calcium in
oranges, besides aiding
in the development
of strong bones and
teeth, also helps blood
vessels distribute
blood throughout the
body while releasing
hormones and enzymes
that positively affect
nearly every vital
function of the body.”
As oranges have been
declared as an excellent
source for obtaining
thiamin and Vitamin-B,
Mercola said, “B
vitamins are plentiful
in oranges, helping the
body convert food into
fuel for energy. Folate
(vitamin B9) helps the
body develop healthy
red blood cells, divides
them correctly, and can
help prevent neural tube
defects.
“Thiamin or vitamin
B1 (so-called because it
was the first B vitamin to
be discovered) is known
as an “anti-stress”
vitamin, because of its
ability to strengthen
the immune system and
increase your ability
to handle tension.
Pyridoxine (vitamin B6)
helps the body make
the neurotransmitters
needed to send nerve
cell signals, vital for
normal brain function
and development. B6
also makes the mood
hormones serotonin and
norepinephrine and the
body clock regulator
melatonin.”
In addition to all the
healthy benefits oranges
have to offer your body,
when it comes to having
healthy eyesight and
clear vision, Mercola also
shares, that, “Vitamin
A is a prominent
flavonoid in oranges,
very good for the body
because of its ability to
maintain healthy mucus
membranes and skin,
and protect from eye
disease like macular
degeneration and
cataracts.”
Therefore, if you
want to make sure your
immune system stays
strong this season, and
you’re looking to stock
up on vitamins without
having to swallow a hard
pill, be sure to stop by
your local market today
and pick up a bag or two
of oranges.
LEFT: A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO  Payton Cox for being the only Blythe FFA Member to walk away in the top 3 on last night.
Cox placed 2nd in the Advanced Job Interview portion of the Imperial Section Public Speaking Competition. RIGHT: Coming in
Fourth Place in the Advanced Extemporaneous category, the remarkable Zach Bush took home two ribbons on last night, at the
Imperial Section.
PVH FFA hosts Imperial Section
BY CATHYLEEN RICE
TIMES REPORTER
Students from Palo
Verde High School,
Brawley, Holtville,
Imperial and Southwest
competed at the annual
Future Farmers of
America (FFA) Imperial
Sectionals on Thursday,
delivering prepared
and extemporaneous
speeches on current
agriculture related
issues and interviewing
for advanced placement
jobs.
Meeting inside
PVH’s Ag Department
classrooms, 60 students
participated.
The opportunity
was made possible
by the Blythe FFA
Chapter leaders, Mark
Mullion, who teaches
Agmechanics, and both
animal and plant science,
along with daughter
Mary Mullion Maxfield,
who teaches vet science
and Agbiology.
The students were
categorized in two
groups, novice:
students who are a
freshman or a first-year
sophomore student
studying agriculture,
and advance, including
students who are a
sophomore, junior
or senior. The six-
hour competition was
energetic as students
waited impatiently to
impress the judges.
FFA students shared
informative speeches
on a variety of topics,
including minimum
wage and how it
affects the agricultural
industry, how the newly
Recipe: Orange Cheese Cakelets
BY RUTH BECKER
CWA—PALO VERDE VALLEY
CHAPTER “THE VALLEY COOK
TWO”
Ingredients:
10 Graham Crackers,
finely crushed
2 T. butter or
margarine, melted
2 pkgs. (3 oz. each)
cream cheese
6 T. sugar
Grated peel of 1 orange
1 T. orange-flavored
Volunteer Opportunities
The Blythe Animal Shelter is
seeking volunteers to walk the
dogs, brush & pet the cats,
groom the dogs, greet
customers, clean kennels and
more!
Apply at www.rcdas.org or
stop by 245 S. Carlton.
Call (760) 921-7857 or
(760) 922-6111.
Professional Groups
Blythe Chamber of Commerce
Meetings are every 3rd
Tuesday at 12 noon. Comfort
Suites 700 West Donlon Street
Did your cat or dog get out and
now you have extra little ones
running around?
Give them away! Free animals
do not cost anything to
advertise. Call 760-922-3181
Add Your Group!
Email classifieds@pvvt.com to add your club or organization’s ongoing event.
BLYTHE’S FFA MEMBER  Clay Pierce received 5th place in the
Advanced Extemporaneous category on last night.
federal ELD mandate
impacts agriculture, the
importance of humane
treatment practices
of animals before
being slaughtered,
the requirement of
only veterinarians
administering medicine
and government
regulations of food safety
measures involving E.
coli and Listeria.
Expounding with a
great depth of knowledge
on their topics, after the
prize-winning speeches
were done and the
scores from the judges
were all tallied, three
advance students from
Palo Verde High School
stood among the top 10
students chosen in each
advance category.
Accordingly, FFA
member Payton Cox
ranked No. 2 in the
advanced job interview
category, followed by
Zach Bush placing
fourth in the advanced
extemporaneous
speech and Clay Pierce
following suit with fifth
liqueur or orange juice
1 egg, beaten
¾ c. sour cream
1 ½ T. sugar
1 T. orange-flavored
liqueur or 2 tsp. grated
orange peel half orange
slices, optional
Directions:
1. Combine cracker
crumbs and butter
thoroughly.
2. Place 10 cupcake
liners in cupcake pan.
Service Organizations
Blythe Lions Club
Meets on the 1st and 3rd
Mondays at 6:30 PM at Steaks
n Cakes 9026 W Hobsonway.
Cub Scout Pack 442
148 North 1st Street Meets
Wednesday's @ 6 pm
kindergarten thru 4th grade
California Women For
Agriculture
Meets every 2nd Tuesday at 12
noon in the County Ag Building
Palo Verde Improvement
Association Meets the 3rd
Tuesday of each month at the
PVIA building 1:00 pm. Palo
Verde CA. Public welcome.
Rotary Club of Blythe
Meets Wednesdays at noon
at Steaks n Cakes
9026 W. Hobsonway.
PHOTOS BY CATHYLEEN RICE/PALO VERDE VALLEY TIMES
they spent time on
practicing and learning
it, it’s a whole different
experience for them.
We’re just grateful
that our program gives
these students this
opportunity, because
there aren’t many
programs like this that
can give them that
speaking ability.”
Mullion added, “This is
just part of the program,
we do a lot of contests
and with our high
school, one thing I’m
very proud of is that we
have four veterinarians
place. practicing veterinarian
medicine right now and
With Maxfield opening
the floor up for comment a fifth student going into
from the judges, Blythe veterinarian from this
farmers Tim Cox shared, little high school, so it’s
“I was really impressed! a good program. We have
Some of you guys were a lot of bright kids.”
amazing, some of you With the top three
guys stumble, but I winners in the advance
was very proud of you categories moving on to
guys for sticking it out the regional portion of
and not giving up. I the competition being
know it’s not easy,” to held this April at Cal-
which local Boy Scout’s Poly Pomona, Mullion
#429 scoutmaster and
said from there, the
livestock herder John
top three winners from
Bush complimented,
region will then go on
“very few people can do
to compete at the state
it, so just keep that in
level in Fresno.
mind. Very, very good
He shared, “Two years
job.”
ago we had a young lady
Mullion and Maxfield
shared with the Times from Blythe, who won
both local here and at
what a great opportunity
it was for FFA students region and she then went
to learn how to speak in on to compete at the state
front of people. level; so from this small
Maxfield said, “When school in the desert, a lot
of good things come from
they do it in their classes
and they’re speaking here.”
to their friends, it’s Mullion said, “We’re
not as intimidating very pleased with the
or challenging, but participation of judges
here in front of three from the college and our
professionals and own faculty, as well.”
3. Place some of minutes.
crumbs in bottom of 10. Combine sour
each pressing firmly.
cream, sugar, liqueur or
4. Combine cream orange peel.
cheese and sugar.
11. Spread cakes with
5. Add peel, liqueur or sour cream mixture.
juice, then egg.
12. Bake at 350 degrees
6. Beat until smooth.
7. Spoon into prepared for 10 minutes.
pan. 13. Cool, then
8. Bake at 350 degrees refrigerate 3 hours or
for about 20 minutes overnight.
until set. 14. Top with orange
9. Cool for five slices before serving.
Service Organizations Support Groups
SOROPTIMIST Addiction Recovery Program
INTERNATIONAL OF BLYTHE 700 N. Broadway
Meets first 3 Tuesday's of Thursday Nights @ 6pm.
each month at 5:30 pm
at Steaks & Cakes
9028 W. Hobsonway Weight Loss
TOPS
Veterans of Foreign War Meets Tuesdays at 6pm
post 2987 148 North 1st Street at the Nazarene Church
Meets on the 1st Monday of 131 N. 2nd St.
every month @ 6 pm
Special Interest Groups Women’s Groups
Men's Bible Study Women's Bible Study
Meets every Monday
Meets Thursday at 6 pm
at the Nazarene Church at 5:30 pm
131 N. 2nd St.
131 North 2nd Street
Support Groups Youth Groups
AL-Anon Meetings Boys Scouts Troop 429
131 N. 2nd St. Tuesday 6-7 pm 700 N. Broadway
meets weekly For more info. Cubs Meet at 6pm
call Bob (760) 574-0292. Boy Scouts meet at 7pm
Include your Group Name, Meeting Details
(time, where, day of the week, how often you
meet, more information, phone number & what
your group meets about).
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