Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

I'm a great lover of oranges but I wish I knew why they are total rubbish this season. I keep buying different types and still rubbish. Yesterday I bought some which looked and felt great, but when I peeled off the skin, nearly half an inch thick and what I was told was a red orange, I was left rubbish with no juice. as tough as old boots and bitter as hell.

I read that percentage of oranges in UK has dropped like a stone, but that's because as the article said " Brits are too lazy to peel them"

Part of the reason for the poor crops of Cyprus Oranges just now is due to the very hot spells we had last year. Most people I have spoken to, and indeed ours, say their Oranges are a lot smaller this year. Of course some places will have had a usual crop.

I've only got 3 oranges on my tree this year, exactly the same with grapefruit, last years crop I couldn't give them all away. Don't know how they taste yet.

benjaminbutton wrote: ↑

Sat 07 Feb 2026 2:03 pm

I'm a great lover of oranges but I wish I knew why they are total rubbish this season. I keep buying different types and still rubbish. Yesterday I bought some which looked and felt great, but when I peeled off the skin, nearly half an inch thick and what I was told was a red orange, I was left rubbish with no juice. as tough as old boots and bitter as hell.

I read that percentage of oranges in UK has dropped like a stone, but that's because as the article said " Brits are too lazy to peel them"

Not sure where that info came from, not heard of, that Brits are too lazy to peel them. As we don't grow them here, ours also come from abroad, so if that's correct the weather has had an affect it would affect us also. Problem with importing citrus fruit, especially at Xmas time, is the ordering is done very early and they go into cold storage weeks before Xmas they then become very dry. We also do not get the choice anymore(in the supermarkets). We are still getting Satsumas but I bought them from M&S last Thursday and all very very small and sharp tasting. £2.00 for 6.

Some are obviously imported. all of a size, each with a one little leaf attached, but no juice and texture of gristle. I really hope they improve cos I love them.

Can't remember who said it, but it was a buyer from one of the UK supermarkets, a couple of months ago.. He was quite serious and discussing fruit and veg generally and which were going or down in popularity.

benjaminbutton wrote: ↑

Sun 08 Feb 2026 4:11 pm

Some are obviously imported. all of a size, each with a one little leaf attached, but no juice and texture of gristle. I really hope they improve cos I love them.

Can't remember who said it, but it was a buyer from one of the UK supermarkets, a couple of months ago.. He was quite serious and discussing fruit and veg generally and which were going or down in popularity.

I looked up and it was M&S that started it by peeling the fruit, according to them to save waste, however people were having none of it and accused them of the usual, stop polluting by way of putting food items in plastic packaging. In my opinion as soon as something gets put in a plastic bag the price goes up.

Dalartokat wrote: ↑

Mon 09 Feb 2026 8:15 pm

benjaminbutton wrote: ↑

Sun 08 Feb 2026 4:11 pm

Some are obviously imported. all of a size, each with a one little leaf attached, but no juice and texture of gristle. I really hope they improve cos I love them.

Can't remember who said it, but it was a buyer from one of the UK supermarkets, a couple of months ago.. He was quite serious and discussing fruit and veg generally and which were going or down in popularity.

I looked up and it was M&S that started it by peeling the fruit, according to them to save waste, however people were having none of it and accused them of the usual, stop polluting by way of putting food items in plastic packaging. In my opinion as soon as something gets put in a plastic bag the price goes up.

It's just made folk really lazy having prepared fruit cut up in plastic packaging, plus it's far more expensive. Goodness knows what process it goes through into the bargain. I hate the way that fruit and veg are sold in bags in UK, which can be way too much, much prefer here where you can buy exactly how much you want.
I don't get M&S response to say that having ready prepped fruit reduces waste, what a lot of tosh!

alphamike wrote: ↑

Tue 10 Feb 2026 7:30 am

Dalartokat wrote: ↑

Mon 09 Feb 2026 8:15 pm

benjaminbutton wrote: ↑

Sun 08 Feb 2026 4:11 pm

Some are obviously imported. all of a size, each with a one little leaf attached, but no juice and texture of gristle. I really hope they improve cos I love them.

Can't remember who said it, but it was a buyer from one of the UK supermarkets, a couple of months ago.. He was quite serious and discussing fruit and veg generally and which were going or down in popularity.

I looked up and it was M&S that started it by peeling the fruit, according to them to save waste, however people were having none of it and accused them of the usual, stop polluting by way of putting food items in plastic packaging. In my opinion as soon as something gets put in a plastic bag the price goes up.

It's just made folk really lazy having prepared fruit cut up in plastic packaging, plus it's far more expensive. Goodness knows what process it goes through into the bargain. I hate the way that fruit and veg are sold in bags in UK, which can be way too much, much prefer here where you can buy exactly how much you want.
I don't get M&S response to say that having ready prepped fruit reduces waste, what a lot of tosh!

M&S and it's image is to make you believe that they are the leaders in bringing something new, using buzz words like reducing waste, saving the planet, environment etc. The peel is probably being recycled into their Marmalade or cakes. All the fruit that's been hanging around is cut up to go into bags 'Todays uncut bread, becomes tomorrow's sliced bread'
Agree it's good to be able to choose what you want.

What an interesting thread that became, thank you guys. Sadly it still means I'll be buying oranges here that are unpleasant to eat. Talking about waste, By and large I love the veg here, but I'm not happy about buying 1Kg of potatoes and then chipping of half a Kg of mud. I realize the ground is very muddy when pots are picked but if you see someone knocking and scraping potatoes together to try and break dry mud off, prior to weighing them, it's probably me.

Dalartokat wrote: ↑

Tue 10 Feb 2026 11:03 pm

M&S and it's image is to make you believe that they are the leaders in bringing something new, using buzz words like reducing waste, saving the planet, environment etc. The peel is probably being recycled into their Marmalade or cakes. All the fruit that's been hanging around is cut up to go into bags 'Todays uncut bread, becomes tomorrow's sliced bread'
Agree it's good to be able to choose what you want.

Agree with you re M&S, and that they are benefitting in using peel for whatever. I try to use peel up in stuff myself. I once and just the once, dried a whole load of different citrus peels and ground them, a bit of a palaver.

benjaminbutton wrote: ↑

Wed 11 Feb 2026 8:48 am

What an interesting thread that became, thank you guys. Sadly it still means I'll be buying oranges here that are unpleasant to eat. Talking about waste, By and large I love the veg here, but I'm not happy about buying 1Kg of potatoes and then chipping of half a Kg of mud. I realize the ground is very muddy when pots are picked but if you see someone knocking and scraping potatoes together to try and break dry mud off, prior to weighing them, it's probably me.

You are not the only one with muddy potatoes BB. Not sure of price of potatoes at the moment, but I really do object to paying for mud.

Is that what they call "eau naturel"

Yup, scrape it off, mix with some cream, and there you are instant mud pack!!. Tik Tok and all those supposed NFLUENCERS think it is a new invention.

benjaminbutton wrote: ↑

Wed 11 Feb 2026 2:28 pm

Yup, scrape it off, mix with some cream, and there you are instant mud pack!!. Tik Tok and all those supposed NFLUENCERS think it is a new invention.

I always wondered what it was that you used!

Be careful I don't turn up at your front door with a mud pie aimed at you.

benjaminbutton wrote: ↑

Sat 14 Feb 2026 5:27 pm

Be careful I don't turn up at your front door with a mud pie aimed at you.

There's a great idea for a fund raiser. Do you want me to save any mud from potatoes?

alphamike wrote: ↑

Sun 15 Feb 2026 10:40 am

There's a great idea for a fund raiser. Do you want me to save any mud from potatoes?

Oi!

That's quite enough of that!

Keithcaley wrote: ↑

Sun 15 Feb 2026 12:02 pm

alphamike wrote: ↑

Sun 15 Feb 2026 10:40 am

There's a great idea for a fund raiser. Do you want me to save any mud from potatoes?

Oi!

That's quite enough of that!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I could be bribable NOT to come though.

alphamike wrote: ↑

Sun 15 Feb 2026 10:40 am

benjaminbutton wrote: ↑

Sat 14 Feb 2026 5:27 pm

Be careful I don't turn up at your front door with a mud pie aimed at you.

There's a great idea for a fund raiser. Do you want me to save any mud from potatoes?

I could ask Keith not to give you a lift.

benjaminbutton wrote: ↑

Wed 11 Feb 2026 2:28 pm

Yup, scrape it off, mix with some cream, and there you are instant mud pack!!. Tik Tok and all those supposed NFLUENCERS think it is a new invention.

Yeah save the mud, could become an asset during the summer months when potatoes come out of storage, slap it back on and make out their new potatoes! Might be better than Watermelon and bread....