- Author: Therese Kapaun
Early season navel oranges command high prices in the export market, and Fukumoto navels are a prized commodity in the San Joaquin Valley. The Fukumoto harvest generally follows the satsuma and clementine harvests, although this variety of navel hangs well on the tree into February. Fukumotos have a characteristic deep orange color, superb flavor, and smooth texture, which earns them a top spot in early season exports. Dr. Mikeal Roose (UC Riverside) is studying the yield, canopy size, and fruit quality of Fukumotos on various the rootstocks. The technician shown in the lower picture is using a digital caliper to measure rind thickness. The caliper is connected to a computer with Microsoft Excel and the push of a button records the value and moves the cursor to the next cell in the spreadsheet.