Spotty Oranges? Let’s talk poteca (aka citrus oil spots!)

In this week’s box, some of the oranges might look a little… pock-marky on the outside. But don’t worry - they’re not diseased, rotten, or past their best. They’ve just got a bit of a skin damage called poteca (aka citrus oil spotting or oleocellosis if you wanna get technical)

Here’s what’s going on 👇
Citrus fruit naturally have tiny oil glands in their skin - it’s what makes them smell so good when you peel them! Sometimes, especially after wet weather or during harvesting, those glands rupture and release oil into the peel. That oil seeps into the sub-epidermal tissue between the oil glands and causes little spots or dents to appear. It’s purely cosmetic - no impact on taste or freshness at all.

Inside? Still sweet, juicy, and absolutely bangin’

These kinds of marks can have devastating financial consequences for commercial growers, because supermarkets often reject fruit based on looks alone; even when there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the inside. So by eating these little oddballs, you’re helping fight food waste, support growers, and give great fruit a home 💛