Fruit of the Week: Citrus

We're so very close to asparagus season here in the Northeast -- the weather has turned, spring is in the air, and soon we'll be seein a lot more green at the market. But while winter is still in our minds, we dedicate our fruit of the week to the mighty citrus. Here's a paean to our favorite winter pick-me-up, as photographed by our very own citrus-addicted Kristy Mucci.

Navel oranges are a snacktime standby, but today we're focusing on its lesser-known cousins like these darling clementines:

And of course the incredible edible lemon (Juice it into a vinaigrette! Stir its zest into pancakes! Fry whole slices of it for an accompaniment to asparagus!):

And we can't forget Meyer lemons. Their sweetly acidic flavor (they're thought to be a cross between lemons and tangerines) makes them perfect for recipes calling for citrus rind -- like preserved lemons:

Have you ever had Cara Cara oranges? We love their brilliant orange insides. And a few weeks ago at Eataly, we found a gorgeous new hybrid: mandarinquats. (They didn't last long in the office.)

Kumquats, which you can pop in your mouth like grapes, are perfect for snacking -- though we've also been known to simmer them into a compote to serve with ricotta-filled crepes:

What's your favorite citrus variety? (Are you lucky enough to have a lemon tree in your backyard?)