Photo: Laura Bulgrin

I’ve been tracking this for days.  And, on a recent afternoon, hunched under my umbrella, I got a mobile alert from the USPS that I had a delivery.

The tangerines!

Photo: Laura Bulgrin

This box didn’t come from a friend, exactly. Rather, it came from Friend’s Ranch, a family-owned citrus farm in Ojai, California.

I ordered what they called the ‘Plain Jane’ at $38. This time of year, that meant a mixed box of tangerines, oranges, lemons and an avocado.

Friend’s offers fruit each season. Right now, the highlight is the Ojai Pixie, a spherical gem that is dainty and sweet, with a little tang. There are three other tangerine varieties in my box besides the pixies. Though I’ve yet to identify each one by name, they are all really tasty.

Photo: Laura Bulgrin

The avocado isn’t quite ripe, so that will probably be eaten last. As for the lemons, they’re nearly gone!

The price comes out to about $4.75 per pound, including shipping. Still savoring the flavors, I know I’ll treat myself again: the citrus I get here at home does’t taste this REAL, nor is it so juicy.

So, if a box of fresh, juicy tangerines arrived at your door, what to do but indulge and take pictures!