Citrus Growers Sweet on Remarkable New Mandarin

by Hanna Raskin, Posted Nov 2nd 2009 @ 4:00PM

After spending more than two decades in development, a mandarin hybrid that some fruit experts are calling "the best thing they've ever eaten in the world of citrus" is now on the market, albeit in limited quantities.

"Oh man, it's dynamite," University of Florida plant breeder Fred Gmitter says of the Sugar Belle. "Spoken like a father, huh?"

When Gmitter joined the Florida faculty in 1985, he discovered his predecessor's experimental citrus groves had been destroyed. Only a block's worth of trees remained, and most of those were "ugly to look at and horrible to eat." But among the duds, he found a tree growing superb orange fruit. He and his colleagues used that tree to create the university's first-ever cultivar.

Since citrus breeding is slow going, the introduction of new varieties is relatively rare. But Peter Chaires, executive director of the company that holds licensing rights to the Sugar Belle, says the fruit could mark the start of a citrus golden age.

"This is the first one out of a long pipeline," Chaires says. "We have some interesting things coming, including an easy-peel mandarin. We'll see varieties for fresh consumption, varieties for the juice market and a lemon-lime hybrid."

While Gmitter concedes the Sugar Belle won't soon replace the standard orange in American lunchboxes, he suspects connoisseurs who sample the mid-winter citrus will clamor for it. The Sugar Belle was extensively tested in Baltimore, Chicago and Tampa shopping malls, where, according to Gmitter, "Everyone liked the Sugar Belle. People liked its flavor, its appearance and its juice."

Chaires raves: "It's not a citrus for lightweights. It has a fantastic deep, rich flavor."

Five growers have planted Sugar Belles, and Chaires says he anticipates the fruit will eventually become a staple of Christmas citrus baskets.

"To have something at its peak at the holidays is a luxury for us," Chaires says.

Although Gmitter is extremely fond of the Sugar Belle, he adds, "This is just the beginning of a flood of new, improved citrus varieties."

Filed Under: New Products
Tags: citrus, citrus fruit, CitrusFruit, fruit, mandarinoranges, mandarins, southern states, Sugar Belle, SugarBelle, winter

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-03-2009 @3:40PM Jesse said... I'd love to hear from people who get to try these--it sounds interesting, but it's hard to separate truth from marketing!
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11-03-2009 @8:50PM Lynn said... I am anxious to try the new fruit. If you want to taste some excellent apples.. go with the honeycrisp or Jazz.. they are stupendous.
Much better than the regular Gala, Macintosh etc etc.

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11-03-2009 @10:07PM Cfinn said... They are playng to be GOD.

They are trying to improve the Creation of GOD...

God, forgive them because they do not know what they are doing...

All of us, will become victims of our own inventions, pretty soon.
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11-03-2009 @11:36PM jomiller11 said... I know (something unrelated to artical) this (product placement) link spam
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11-04-2009 @2:57AM Steve said... There are other super-fruit oranges out there. Another new one is called the "Citrine."

The Citrine is a special orange that is super sweet, clean and easy to peel, seedless, and breaks into neat little pieces to be eaten as a clean snack. I think they may also be organic, but that isn't important to me.
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11-04-2009 @3:45AM Margie said... A delicious Navel Orange - newest that I have found/eaten. Is named "Cara Cara" with pinkish organge skin and flesh. Is grown in California and the best I have ever tasted. Was able to purchase a few trees this year for myself and two children after conferring with a plant nursery owner.
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11-04-2009 @6:44AM Jessa said... I love oranges and apples as a great snack and can't wait to try this new mandarin.

I am always watching my weight and finally realized diets, pills, supplement and buying expensive prepared meals may work short term, but you will gain it all back plus more. I have tried every diet to only lose the weight (sometimes) and gain back more (always). After struggling over the years to lose weight and keep it off, I finally found what worked for me. I avoid diets foods, diet soda and processed food and keep it simple and walk every day. Eat less, burn more! To maintain long term weight loss to pill is going to do it for you, you have to change the bad habits that got your overweight to begin with.

In general I avoid diet foods, diet soda and processed food and keep it simple and walk every day. I eat a high fiber diet based on whole grains, flax, veggies, fruit and lean protein and drink water (with a lemon wedge). I find if I am full I am less likely to pig out and make foolish food choices. My favorite high fiber food is flax. I have fitflax http://www.fitflax.com every morning in greek yogurt. FitFlax is a golden roasted flax and chia seeds blend that is low carb/low cal and FILLING. I have my power breakfast, and I am full, have tons of energy and am able to make better food choices the rest of the day. Fitflax tastes nutty (kinda like peanut butter) and I sometimes just eat straight from the bag. It does not need to be ground so it is convenient. I found the code fit10 on a health board and it gives 10 percent off.

I still have more weight to lose but I love what I am eating and am no longer the "fat" girl with the pretty curly hair.

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