Just as you’ve been getting ready for all the joys of the season, so have our Satsuma Mandarin growers! These great tasting little citrus gems are at peak of season during the holidays and to celebrate the season (both of them!), we’re having a special one-day sale this Friday, December 17^th, with Satsuma Mandarins for just 69 cents per pound (available in our stores in the U.S. and Canada). Super sweet, juicy, seedless and easy to peel, the Satsuma is a variety of Mandarin orange and a cousin to the Clementine. Grown in the San Joaquin Valley, the Satsuma’s annual harvest begins in November and the season is, well, short and sweet, just lasting six to eight weeks. Perfect for a peel-and-eat snack and to tuck into lunchboxes, this small-sized tangerine is just right for kids. In addition to being a deliciously sweet finish to a meal, it packs a citrusy burst of flavor in salads and savory dishes. Try some of these recipes to take advantage of Satsuma season and our one-day sale. They just might find their way to your holiday table!

XX = Amount of savings varies by store.

A wonderful appetizer or hors d’oeuvres for a holiday party, Two-Bite Shrimp Pancakes with Satsuma Relish are impressive and delicious. One of our favorite winter salads, Celery Citrus Salad with Balsamic and Feta combines crunchy celery and delightful sweet, juicy citrus – a perfect recipe to show off Satsumas! For a quick dessert that is perfect for the season, Panettone Parfaits are an easy layered treat with Satsumas delivering a burst of flavor in between toasted almonds, creamy vanilla yogurt and sweet, bready panettone. Satsumas add a bright citrusy spark both in the dressing and in this fresh seasonal salad, Spinach Salad with Aduki Beans and Clementine Vinaigrette. We’d like to introduce you to the dedicated growers who are producing the most delicious Satsumas found anywhere. Kings Crown Produce Terra Bella, California For more than two decades, Randy Weldon and his team at King Crown Produce have grown outstanding citrus as well as table grapes and pistachios at their 1,200-acre farm located in the Terra Bella area of California's fertile San Joaquin Valley. The superior quality of the King Crown Satsuma Mandarin, with its sweet taste and kid-friendly, easy-to-peel skin, is a source of pride and distinction for the farm. Weldon, who has more than 35 years in the agricultural business, focuses on maximum freshness and quality fruit that is mature before picking and packed to order. The Satsumas are hand washed and hand packed on the same day they are shipped, ensuring ultimate freshness and flavor. Johnston Farms Edison, California In the shadow of the Tehachapi Mountains, Johnston Farms, a fourth-generation farming operation in the San Joaquin Valley of California, is dedicated to giving customers a taste experience that’s second to none – fruits that not only look good but provide a true flavor experience. Shortly after World War II, John C. Johnston founded Johnston Farms with potatoes as his primary crop. The first Satsuma Mandarins were planted in the early ‘70s and now the farm’s premium citrus is known worldwide for its high quality. The Johnstons attribute this to years of fine-tuning their growing and harvesting practices. Family members continue to work the farm and are dedicated to land stewardship through a commitment to soil management and irrigation practices that reserve water supplies. So mark December 17th on your calendar and stock up on the season’s best!