Vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is one of the most important vitamins found in citrus juices, including orange juice. The temperature and storage time affects the percent of vitamin C content of orange fruits and orange juice. Different varieties of oranges also have different levels of vitamin C. The mid-season variety, Pineapple Orange had the highest levels, followed by the main early-season variety, Hamlin Orange. The late-season Valencia Orange had the lowest vitamin C content. Additionally, it was found that the longer the Valencia Orange fruit stayed on the tree, the lower the vitamin C level.
