Citrus Growers Forum

Davidmac · Posted: Wed 05 Dec, 2007 5:50 pm

Quote:

Old Fruit Makes Comeback in Jackson County

Tuesday, Dec 04, 2007 - 06:52 PM Updated: 10:00 PM
By Megan Albright

You usually find citrus in south Florida, but did you know that Jackson County used to be the satsuma capital of Florida?

The trees died out after a freeze in the mid 1930's and weren't replanted until just recently. Some Jackson County farmers are counting on this crop to keep their farms in business.

In the early 1900's Jackson County had 3,000 acres of satsuma trees. The annual satsuma festivals in 1929 and 1930 brought 35,000 people to the area.

A major freeze in 1935 wiped out the trees, but thanks to research from the University of Florida the fruit is making a comeback.

Satsuma farmers now use the same method strawberry farmers in central Florida use to keep their fruit, and plants, from freezing. A micro-irrigation system sprays water to coat the tree and form an ice layer. The ice generates heat which keeps the trees alive.

Glass says farmers use traditional crops, like corn and peanuts, to live farm bill to farm bill. He hopes the satsumas will provide a little more stability.

Mack Glass is looking for people to buy his satsumas. If you'd like to be a distributor, or just want to pick some up for yourself, the Glass' Cherokee Ranch is located 6 miles south of Marianna on Highway 167.

A short video is on this page-
http://www.wmbb.com/gulfcoastwest/mbb/news.apx.-content-articles-MBB-2007-12-04-0020.html

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JoeReal · Posted: Wed 05 Dec, 2007 6:02 pm

That's great. At least now that the tropical belts are expanding. We just hope that there would be lesser mood swings of the weather from those arctic blasts.

Farming, like any other businesses, has a lot of risks. By considering such events, and realistically accounting for the once in so many year freezes, we can obtain a better feasibility, and you'll be surprised that it is feasible if you have prepared for those.

Skeeter · Posted: Wed 05 Dec, 2007 8:34 pm

It sounds like UF and AU are on the same track. Satsumas (when they are sweet) are next to the Spanish clementines in my book. It would be good to see them in supermarkets.

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Skeet

JoeReal · Posted: Wed 05 Dec, 2007 8:45 pm

I only have 20 owari satsuma fruits left on my mandarin tree. Then the next would be Ponkan and Page, after that the Shasta Gold and Yosemite Gold ...

And my Navels are not ready yet. Citrus fruits are always in short supply in my yard no matter how many plants I have.

Mother-in-law is staying with us the entire winter, and she loves citruses of all kinds, from Calamondins to anything that has nice color on my trees! At least she loves them.

Millet · Posted: Wed 05 Dec, 2007 10:56 pm

Last night I purchased a few Florida grown Starburst mandarins at the supermarket. The fruit I ate had 28 seeds, but it was good to see citrus coming back into the market.