Posts Tagged: mandarin

Tango to be a big hit

A new, virtually seed-free mandarin will for the first time be sold in California grocery stores, but consumers may not even notice, according to an AP story by Jeff Nachtigal published late last week. Google News reports that the article made its way into about 200 news outlets.

The story was also written up by reporter Mark Muckenfuss of the Riverside Press-Enterprise in mid-January.

UC Riverside began releasing budwood for Tango mandarins in 2006; more than a million trees are now growing in California. Their first commercial crop is being harvested this month.

Tango is the result of a mutation induced by irradiating budwood of W. Murcott mandarin in UC Riverside genetics professor Mikeal Roose's lab. It has all the good qualities of W. Murcott, but doesn't produce seeds even if bees visit the blossoms covered in pollen from other citrus trees.

Roose told Nachtigal the new mandarin is "like a new car with all the details of the previous year's model, but one that gets 10 miles more to the gallon."

"It's probably the best piece of fruit that's come along for years for citrus growers," Roose was quoted.

Roose said Tango will most likely be marketed as Cuties and Delites. Some may be sold under the Tango name at grocery stores and farmers markets.

W. Murcott mandarin (left) and Tango (right).

Placer welcomes mandarin lovers

Having skirted damage from last week's freeze threat, Placer County is now ready to welcome visitors from the valley to buy foothill mandarins, said an article in the Sacramento Bee.

Mandarins are a signature crop in Placer County, where the climate and soil produce particularly flavorful fruit, according to a UC Cooperative Extension mandarin information page. Mandarins are more cold tolerant than all other citrus except kumquats.

The Mountain Mandarin Association's website says the first mandarin orange trees were planted in Placer County in the 1880s. According to the agricultural commissioner's crop report, Placer County citrus fruit was valued at $1,223,545 in 2009.

The association website offers maps to the county's 30 producers, an attraction guide, nutrition information and recipes.

Mandarins make lovely holiday gifts.

Read more