Why Our Satsumas Taste Insanely Good This Year
Every year we provide delicious, tree-ripened citrus, but this winter, the fruit is tasting exceptional. News from down at the farm explains the two main reasons why: the age of the trees and the cool weather.
1. The Maturity of the Trees
Each tree needs time to mature to create great-tasting fruit. For peach trees, it takes about three years. However, for citrus, it takes eight to ten years to reach its peak. Right now, we are in that zone.
2. Chill Hours
Citrus needs to experience “chill hours” to sweeten, particularly cold nights. Chill hours are when temperatures are below 45 degrees. The Satsuma mandarin requires about 300 chill hours for proper fruit production. Cold weather sweetens citrus by reducing its acid content and concentrating sugars.
Cold weather also gives the citrus their rich color. Last week Sunday and Monday, the cold we experienced in the Midwest reached down to our citrus farm in Monticello, Florida. In fact, the cool weather caused a real scare. That night, it got down to 30 degrees, and the farmers were worried the fruit would freeze. However, the effect has created amazingly sweet and brightly colored Satsumas.
But don’t worry! Even if the temperature drops below freezing, the farms have a plan. They use irrigation systems to protect the crop. The fruit is sprayed with water which, when it freezes, produces heat. This heat keeps the fruit at about 32 (F) degrees. It might seem counterproductive, but the frozen water is enough to preserve the fruit safely on the inside.
If you haven’t tasted a Satsuma mandarin, it’s a sweet and tangy variety that is everything you want: seedless, easy to peel, and bursting with flavor. Our partner farm Florida Georgia Citrus is led by Kim Jones, one of the most dedicated and innovative growers we’ve ever met. After spending 48 years in the farming industry, Kim and four generations of his family are now running the farm.
The first Satsumas we got were good… these are even better! You don’t want to miss this citrus season!
