Deep Thoughts on Nature: An Ode to Jack Handy

Have I mentioned how impressed I am with Nature? I mean, all the things it does for us, like make the trees magically bud and the gnomes come out and those talking cloud creatures? Sheesh, nature is a good egg. Sure it hasn't gotten around to making a Tooth Fairy for chimps or a Santa Claus for tube worms, but I still love it - even after the time the Wind stole my lunch money in 5th grade. Some days, when the dew point is just right, I like to pull the nature-o-matic machine onto my head, adjust the cardboard dials and tin foil antenna and order flocks of seagulls to move with my mind. I know nature's secret name. Lately however, I've been perplexed as to why nature hasn't acted on my latest memo and instilled us with the ability to produce Vitamin C. It's odd to think that humans - along with primates and guinea pigs - are the only mammals on the planet that have lost the ability to produce their own stash of this very important vitamin. (Really, it's true.) We produce Vitamin K from bacteria in our intestines and Vitamin D when ultraviolet light hits our skin, but Vitamin C is a big no-show in the self-production department. Vitamin C helps produce collagen, prevent scurvy, and treat iron-deficiency anemia. I know I've tried to produce my own Vitamin C by sitting quietly in a field chewing cud and thinking like a cow, but to no avail. Well, luckily we have help. Nature, in a random act of kindness, decided to produce citrus during the winter cold and flu season. Did I mention, I'm recommending Nature for a raise?

Murcots: Sure it sounds like a small furry mammal that lives on the plains of Africa but in reality it is a wonderful mandarin. Murcots are those dark orange pieces of citrus in the crate this week. They are super sweet and juicy. Each of these has about 35 percent of your daily Vitamin C requirement.

For explanations and photos of our fruit mix, please check out this week's mix.

Enjoy and be fruitful!

chris@fruitguys.com