The mandarin orange craze is invading lunch bags across the country, but Florida's citrus industry, ravaged for years by disease like citrus greening, has not been able to capitalize.
- UF-created mandarin Sugar Belle growing
- Research shows fruit resilient against citrus greening
- Could help citrus growers, drop fruit prices
However, Florida researchers say a hybrid they've been working with is proving resilient, and possibly profitable.
Citrus greening, a bacterial disease, has consumed and killed Florida's citrus crop for decades.
According to University of Florida Research Professor Frederick Gmitter, Florida was the number one grower of mandarins about 15 years ago. However, Florida mandarins are highly susceptible to citrus greening.
Professor Gmitter and UF are now promoting the Sugar Belle Mandarin, a hybrid of the Clementine and Minneola varieties that researchers have been working with since 1985.
The Sugar Belle has proven over the past two decades to thrive and provide sweet fruit despite being plagued by citrus greening.
"One of the symptoms of citrus greening as you look around this grove are dead trees -- that's a symptom. This one just seems to be outgrowing the disease," Professor Gmitter said.
Gmitter said most of the mandarins sold in Florida are brought in from California or out of the country and that increases prices. Over 90 percent of the nation's mandarin crop is grown in California.
If the Sugar Belle is a success, it could mean the price could drop because it won't need to be shipped from places farther away.