Florida citrus crate

The New Varieties Development & Management Corporation (NVDMC) has scheduled statewide grower meetings for May to launch Fast Track’s third suite of UF/IFAS-developed experimental citrus selections.

This new suite features four seedless easy-peel mandarin selections, namely UFGlow, UFSunrise, UFDawn and 7-6-27.

In addition, the UFGlow, UFSunrise and UFDawn varieties are mess-free – meaning your hands remain dry -- early maturing and cold tolerant.

Variety 7-6-27, meanwhile, has generated greater interest than any previous UF mandarin release at UF’s Citrus Research and Education Center Fruit Display Days, both in-state and internationally, as a result of its very early season of maturity, excellent colour and flavour, and a potentially higher degree of tolerance to citrus greening.

Fast Track is a programme developed by the FFSP, UF/IFAS faculty and the NVDMC.

Through Fast Track, commercial citrus growers can register to plant promising experimental selections for trial and evaluation, said FFSP executive director John Beuttenmuller.

“Fast Track engages growers in the evaluation process and provides an opportunity for industry to help determine which selections have true commercial potential,” Beuttenmuller said.