CATCH THE BUZZ

California Keeps Planting Those Mandarins...

Mandarin orange plantings in the Central Valley’s citrus belt continue to increase to meet growing consumer demand. According to the U.S. National Agricultural Statistics Service, in 2005 there were 24,038 acres planted to mandarins in California, with 11,834 of those non-bearing. In other words, three years ago nearly half of all mandarins were newly planted.

In 2008, 31,392 acres were planted to mandarins; 5,707 non-bearing. According to the U.S. National Agricultural Statistics Service, in 2005 there were 24,038 acres planted to mandarins in California, with 11,834 of those non-bearing. In other words, three years ago nearly half of all mandarins were newly planted. In 2008, 31,392 acres were planted to mandarins; 5,707 non-bearing.

Plant researchers continue to work on developing new varieties of mandarins — not to replace Clementines or Satsumas, but to enhance them. Beekeepers, meanwhile, look on to see if these new plantings are in bee friendly zones, or will be used to exclude honey bee colonies from even more foraging areas. Bees and trees are at the bottom of an ungoing dispute between beekeepers and mandarin growers. The growers want bees excluded from areas too close to their mandarins because bees will visit both mandarins and cross pollinators, enabling the mandarins to produce seeds, reducing their value. Knowingly planting additional trees in areas too close to cross pollinator varieties would certainly be in error, now that the growers are keenly aware of their initial mistake, and would probably weaken their negotiating positions later this season when they want to exclude bees entirely.

UC Riverside scientists have recently released to tree nurseries varieties called Gold Nugget and Yosemite Gold. They continue working on producing even better varieties of the fruit.