This is a practical question, but the answer depends on fruit size, variety, and freshness, all of which influence vitamin C content. From a dietary strategy perspective, relying on a single fruit to “cover everything” is less reliable than spreading vitamin-C sources across the day.\n\nCitrus fruits are good sources; oranges and lemons can help you approach daily targets depending on portion size. Mandarins contribute similarly. Apples, however, are not as vitamin-C–dense as citrus; it is more rational to view apples primarily for fiber and polyphenols while covering vitamin C through richer options such as peppers, kiwi, broccoli, or parsley.\n\nA key detail for lemons: people often consume them as juice squeezed into water or salads rather than eating the whole fruit. That usually means smaller vitamin C intake per serving, so lemons are best considered a supportive source. The most dependable approach is a daily combination of at least one vitamin-C–rich fruit plus one vitamin-C–rich vegetable, ensuring adequacy without relying on a single food item.