- Author: Elizabeth E Grafton-Cardwell
With the help of JBT FoodTech, Lindcove staff revamped the section of the packline we use for mandarins. We can now load, drench, wax and dry mandarins and simulate commercial packing house treatments. We upgraded the mandarin line to help researchers respond to the industry shift towards mandarins. In this photo, Frost Owari mandarins from Marylu Arpaia's sensory tasting trials are being run through the line.
- Author: Elizabeth E Grafton-Cardwell
The unique partnership between the University of California and the Citrus Research Board continues with the building of a new greenhouse at the Lindcove Research and Extension Center. This greenhouse will house germplasm from the Citrus Clonal Protection Program, which is the basis for the disease-free budwood release program. Thank-you again to the citrus industry for this donation to Lindcove!
- Author: Elizabeth E Grafton-Cardwell
Mark Beck and Kaye, visitors from Florida, arrived in time for the first fruit display and tasting event at Lindcove. Twenty-one varieties of satsuma mandarins were on display and while they were less than fully mature, the color and flavor comparisons were interesting to growers and nurserymen. We will retaste these varieties as well as some clementines on October 27.
- Author: Elizabeth E Grafton-Cardwell
Come experience our first mandarin tasting this week Oct 6 from 10 am to 1 pm (22963 Carson Ave. Exeter). More than 20 varieties of satsuma mandarins in various stages of maturity will be displayed whole and sliced for tasting. We will provide a report of the current and average sugar acid ratios and Brix. At later dates we will display the same varieties to allow visitors to experience characteristics such as color, flavor and rind quality as the season progresses.
- Author: Elizabeth E Grafton-Cardwell
The Citrus Research Board provided funding for a new citrus fruit grading system for Lindcove. The Compaq system has three sets of cameras (InVision 9000, ultraviolet, near infra-red) that will allow us to do more than just size, count and grade the fruit, but also measure length and width, volume, density, scarring damage, rot, puff and crease, dryness and Brix. The highly advanced software will record measurements for each individual fruit which will allow us to run correlations between all of these parameters. The result is that we can determine which rootstock and scion (variety) combinations give the perfect size, sweetest taste, and best ripening fruit. We will also be able to train the software to recognize various pest damages and so demonstrate which pesticides best protect the fruit from damage. The system arrived on September 29th and we are very excited about the many new studies that it will support for researchers at Lindcove. Thank-you to the citrus industry!