By Clint Thompson
The potential lack of satsuma mandarins in the cold-hardy citrus region this season should not prompt growers to stay sidelined when managing their groves.
Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association and member of the Georgia Citrus Commission, implores producers to remain vigilant in their management strategies despite the grim outlook for the region’s main variety.
“You want your tree to remain healthy. It’s a tough balance when you’ve got no fruit to speak of. That means no income, but still you’ve got to put out money to take care of your grove,” Savelle said. “You still scout for leaf miner, and of course still scout for the (Asian citrus) psyllid. We’ve got traps in our groves for psyllids. You still scout for any other issues you’ve got going on; fungal diseases and mites. You’re constantly scouting right now.”
The satsuma supply will be extremely low for the upcoming season following an overabundance of supply in 2024. However, there should be plenty of supply in other citrus varieties.
“I’ve got Cara Caras, and I’ve even got Valencias. I still have Valencias on the tree with blooms and fruit coming on; your navels, your oranges and some of your other mandarins,” Savelle said.