Production in the cold-hardy citrus region continues to be a learning process for growers. Producers in North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama are learning this year the price of alternate bearing for their satsuma mandarin crop.
After a heavy crop load last season, production is expected to taper off quite a bit this season across the cold-hardy citrus region.
Mary Sutton, University of Georgia assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, believes that reality will impact how growers approach future seasons.
“I think it is part of the learning process. I don’t think anybody expected the heavy year last year to have such an effect on this year,” Sutton said. “I think we have learned, in the future, if we do have a very heavy year, we’ve got to do something about it. I also think all the cold weather we got in late January could have had an effect.
“I don’t think anybody expected to have no fruit this year.”
Sutton expects growers will implement management strategies to maintain proper crop load from one season to the next. This includes fruit thinning and heavy pruning during heavier years of production.
“Fruit thinning or even some of the heavier pruning can help knock off some of those extra fruit and keep the crop load to something more manageable while maintaining a balance between vegetative and reproductive growth,” Sutton said.
She stressed that overall production will be down in 2025.
“The satsuma crop is very, very light this year. I know some people don’t have any this year, so satsumas are going to be in short supply,” Sutton said. “As far as others, it’s very hit or miss. Some have an okay crop load, and others don’t. I think all around, citrus is going to be light this year.”
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