Orange County citrus nursery has big plans for 2008

WEST ORANGE - Where Orange County got its name is a mystery.
But whatever its origin, there's never been any large-scale commercial production of the fruit or trees in the county that bears the name - until now. Atop part of a 140-acre slice of the more than 231,600 acres Orange County now covers, a Louisiana family may be using the county's hospitable growing climate to make history.

Saxon Becnel and Sons of Texas Citrus Nursery already have sprouted thousands of seedlings that eventually will become the orange trees that homeowners will be able to buy at Lowe's and Home Depot next fall.

New start

The Becnel family has been in citrus production along the Mississippi River in Belle Chasse, La., near New Orleans, since the 1850s, father Saxon Becnel said.

Orange's orange grove

Texas A&M University-Kingsville Citrus Center
The tradition almost came to an end in 2005. Hurricane Katrina pushed the river over its levees and ravaged the family's fields. They began looking for new locations and were drawn to a tract of land along FM 105 in Orange County. The identical climate and easy access to the Sabine River Authority canal - an abundant source of fresh water - were huge pluses, Ricky Becnel said. "It actually is an ideal site," he said. The family bought land from the Stark Foundation in 2006, bought certified California citrus seeds and set up living quarters and a pump system.

They hooked up with Texas A&M University's Citrus Center in Kingsville to make sure they followed the rules for a disease-free, healthy crop, Saxon Becnel said. "We're doing everything they ask us to do so we can be upfront, first-class," Saxon Becnel said. "That's our hope." Despite being without power for a few days after Hurricane Humberto - which also stripped leaves from the young plants - Saxon Becnel expects the family's Orange County operation to generate 85,000 seedlings when they are ready to sell next fall.

"These trees would be sold this winter but we want to make 'em the best," he said. The nursery also will produce kumquat, grapefruit, lime and satsuma trees, among others. Fig trees might be available this winter, he said.

Citrus explosion

The Becnels' view of Southeast Texas' climate is backed up by science, said John Da Graça, deputy director of Texas A&M Kingsville's Citrus Center. "Historically, citrus culture began south of Houston and spread to Southeast Texas until freezes and diseases killed them off in the early 20th century," Da Graça said. Milder winters common across the southern half of Texas are attracting citrus farmers. Operations even have begun in drier parts of the state such as El Paso, he said. Nationwide, Florida reigns supreme in the number of acres devoted to citrus production, followed by California. Texas and Arizona tie for third. About 70 percent of Texas citrus culture is devoted to grapefruit, and most of the other 30 percent goes to oranges, Da Graça said. Satsumas most commonly are grown along the upper Texas coast because they are more tolerant of the cold snaps that can grip the region, Da Graça said. Small nurseries growing pomelos, an Asian fruit resembling grapefruit, have sprouted up near Houston, he said.


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