The Georgia Citrus Association celebrated its 10th anniversary at its recent annual meeting. Much has changed in the industry over the past decade, specifically how growers have diversified their production to include more than just satsuma mandarins.
“The industry was initially built on satsumas, being that they’re cold hardy, so that is still the majority of the varieties in Georgia,” said Georgia grower Buck Paulk. “The industry is certainly diversifying, and that’s understood by anybody getting into it. There are still some satsumas being planted, but it appears to me the majority is going toward other forms of citrus.”
Georgia citrus leaders have long advocated for growers to diversify their production, especially since satsuma mandarins offer a short harvest window of only four to five weeks. It does not take long before the fruit loses quality on the tree after it ripens. Other citrus varieties last longer and provide an extended marketing window.
“We’re seeing that satsumas have a small window. They don’t store as well on the tree or off the tree as some other varieties do,” Paulk said. “Tangos have proven to be pretty good with cold hardiness. That’s an attractive one. It’s a nice piece of fruit.”
Paulk added that growers are also diversifying with grapefruit and some navel oranges. He noted there is some interest in research for juice production. According to Paulk, there is a market for juice, and variety selection will be important for it.
A juice market may be necessary since there can be an overabundance of satsumas in any given year in the cold-hardy citrus region. If the fresh market cannot handle the number of fruit produced in South Georgia and North Florida, it can lead to many growers discarding much of their crop.
Expansion into the juice market could open a profitable marketing opportunity for Georgia growers. But additional research is needed.
“The industry is still in a state of learning,” concluded Paulk.
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