Photos: What to buy, what to skip this citrus season

Keep or toss? You might ask yourself that if you cut into this Daisy SL mandarin. This condition -- granulation -- is most common at the end of a variety’s season, when the juice vesicles dry out, starting at the top (stem end) of the fruit. Typically, that would be a sign that this fruit is past its prime. In fact, this Daisy SL was a good eat below the granulated part.

What follows is a look at citrus season at Southern California farmers markets. Market Watch columnist David Karp helps you figure out what’s hitting its peak, and what might be past its prime. (David Karp / For The Times)

March 7, 2014 12:18 PM PT

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Perfect at this time: Nagami kumquats grown by Hassan Glamlouch of the Grove in Riverside, at the Santa Monica Organic farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

Still excellent: Nagami kumquats grown by Bernard Ranches of Riverside and Valley Center, at the Hollywood farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

Very good, but naturally low in acidity. Pixie mandarins grown by Jeanne Stehly of Sycamore Hill Ranch, in Fillmore, at the Santa Monica Organic farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

Still good: Chandler pummelos grown by Laura Ramirez of J.J.’s Lone Daughter Ranch in Redlands, at the Hollywood farmers market. Smooth, firm specimens from Southern California should be fine for another few months. (David Karp / For The Times)

Prime season from Southern California: samples of Honey mandarins grown by Garcia Organic Farm in De Luz, at the Santa Monica Organic farmers market. Not to be confused with the Honey Murcott from Florida, this is the California Honey, a cross of King and Mediterranean mandarins. (David Karp / For The Times)

In prime season form Ojai: Pixie mandarins grown by Tony Thacher of Friend’s Ranch in Ojai, at the Hollywood farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

Still good: Bearss limes grown by Laura Ramirez of J.J.’s Lone Daughter Ranch in Redlands, at the Hollywood farmers market. This variety has a very long season in Southern California. More are available in autumn and early winter, but if you can find specimens like this, they should be just fine. (David Karp / For The Times)

Getting to the end of the season in the Central Valley but still looking and tasting good: Meyer lemons grown by Arnett Farms in Fresno, at the Hollywood farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

Move on: Satsuma mandarins, many of them puffy and overmature, grown by Ken Lee in Orosi, at the Hollywood farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

A good choice in March: These Gold Nugget mandarins grown by Arnett Farms in Fresno may look pebbly but that’s just how they often look, and this variety is generally still in good condition from both the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California; at the Hollywood farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

Move on: Fairchild mandarins grown by Arnett Farms in Fresno, at the Hollywood farmers market. They still look in acceptable condition and taste OK, but there are better mandarin varieties available at this time. (David Karp / For The Times)

Watch that nose: Cocktail “grapefruit” (actually a pummelo-mandarin hybrid) with prominent creasing and a “sheepnose,” not a good sign for a high-quality fruit; at the Santa Monica Organic farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

Late season, a bit low in acidity, but still good: samples of Fremont mandarins grown by Garcia Organic Farm in De Luz, at the Santa Monica Organic farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

Prime season from Southern California: Honey mandarins grown by Garcia Organic Farm in De Luz, at the Santa Monica Organic farmers market. Not to be confused with the Honey Murcott from Florida, this is the California Honey, a cross of King and Mediterranean mandarins. (David Karp / For The Times)

Still in good condition from Ojai: Tahoe Gold mandarins (originally known as TDE3, it is a hybrid of Temple tangor and Dancy and Encore mandarins) grown by Tony Thacher of Friend’s Ranch in Ojai, at the Hollywood farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

Very sweet and still good: Washington navel oranges grown by Hassan Glamlouch of the Grove in Riverside, at the Santa Monica Organic farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

Rather soft but still potentially good: Cocktail “grapefruit” (actually a pummelo and mandarin hybrid) grown by Garcia Organic Farm in De Luz, at the Santa Monica Organic farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

Most Moro blood oranges grown in Southern California are still good, but those from the San Joaquin Valley have developed off flavors by now. Moro blood oranges grown by Garcia Organic Farm in De Luz ( San Diego County), at the Santa Monica Organic farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

Prime season if they’re from Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley (pretty much past season if from the desert): Eureka lemons grown by Ace Ranch in Escondido, at the Hollywood farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

Jeanne Stehly of Sycamore Hill Ranch and her Pixie mandarins

Jeanne Stehly of Sycamore Hill Ranch, from Fillmore, points to her Pixie mandarins, at the Santa Monica Organic farmers market. She just started bringing this variety; the fruits are very good and naturally low in acidity. (David Karp / For The Times)

Sectoral chimera, a mutation of Fremont mandarin grown by Garcia Organic Farm in De Luz, at the Santa Monica Organic farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

A good choice, for fruit from both the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California: Samples of W. Murcott Afourer mandarins grown by Regier Farms in Dinuba, at the Hollywood farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

Page mandarins grown by Garcia Organic Farm in De Luz ( San Diego County), at the Santa Monica Organic farmers market. Still good, and very sweet, from Southern California; overmature from the San Joaquin Valley. (David Karp / For The Times)

A definite maybe: Most Moro blood oranges grown in Southern California are still good, but those from the San Joaquin Valley have developed off flavors by now. The Moro blood oranges grown by Jeanne Stehly of Sycamore Hill Ranch, in Fillmore ( Ventura County), at the Santa Monica Organic farmers market. (David Karp / For The Times)

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