Fast Track

UF/IFAS initiated its citrus FAST TRACK release option as a means of moving its promising experimental fresh citrus selections into grower trials. The goal of the program is to utilize small private grower trials to accelerate the identification of commercially valuable varieties for the fresh market, incentivize grower participation, engage nurseries early in the process, and provide an expedited path to full-scale commercial production when warranted.

Growers get to experience FAST TRACK selections soon after they are identified to keep growers on the cutting edge. Today, more than 125 new scion/rootstock combinations are in growers’ fields under various stages of evaluation, with some selections elevated to commercial production.

Considerations

FAST TRACK is intended to reduce the amount of time necessary to evaluate and commercialize promising new citrus varieties. The program is for University of Florida fresh fruit varieties only in Florida. This processed is designed to offer incentive to growers to participate in the commercial evaluations of new experimental UF/IFSA varieties, and to have firsthand experience growing the trees and producing the crops to support decisions about planting these varieties on a commercial scale.

Process

Grower trials
Evaluation
Registration documentation
Commercial production

Evaluation

FAST TRACK engages growers in the evaluation process and provides an opportunity for the industry to help determine which selections have true commercial potential.

Fruit shown at UF-IFAS fruit displays are scored and the selections with the highest scores are considered for release in FAST TRACK. FAST TRACK selections have been released in suites. The first three suites had three Tiers of engagement: Tier 1(trial), Tier 2 (limited commercial production) and Tier III (broad commercial availability after execution of a license). Prior to the release of Suite IV, FAST TRACK was greatly simplified. Starting with the Marathon in Suite IV, growers can now register and make their own determination if they would like to conduct a small trial, large trial, multiple trials or some level of commercial production. It is purely up to the grower and is only limited by their tolerance of risk, availability of plant material and nursery capacity.

Tier I

Tier I is for trial only. Growers could plant a maximum of 30 trees of each selection. Fruit in Tier I cannot be sold and growers are required to share information about their experience with the selections they registered to trial. Registration for Tier I is closed. Only registered Tier I growers can nominate a selection to move to Tier II.

FAST TRACK Selections in Tier 1:

Suite I: Pummelette, Seedless Snack, 5-1-99-5, C4-15-19, 411, 900, C2-5-12

Suite II: 711, Summer Gold Grapefruit

Suite III: UF Dawn, UF Sunrise

UF 411UF 411: Large Mid Season, Mandarin, Some seeds, Easy peel, Exceptional flavor, Productive
UF 411: Large Mid Season, Mandarin, Some seeds, Easy peel, Exceptional flavor, Productive
UF 900UF 900: Early Season Mandarin – Sept/Oct, October ratio 12-14, Some seeds, Great natural early, color, Great flavor, Easy Peel
UF 900: Early Season Mandarin – Sept/Oct, October ratio 12-14, Some seeds, Great natural early, color, Great flavor, Easy Peel
UF C2-5-12UF C2-5-12: Red-fleshed, Sweet non-bitter, Matures in Nov, Favorite at fruit shows, Produces primarily fruit somewhat larger than grapefruit
UF C2-5-12: Red-fleshed, Sweet non-bitter, Matures in Nov, Favorite at fruit shows, Produces primarily fruit somewhat larger than grapefruit
c4-15-19c4-15-19: Early Maturing (Oct – Nov) Seedless, Tangerine Clementine size, Good ext & int color, Easy peel, improves with storage, 15-19 brix
c4-15-19: Early Maturing (Oct – Nov) Seedless, Tangerine Clementine size, Good ext & int color, Easy peel, improves with storage, 15-19 brix
c4-15-19 treec4-15-19 tree: Trees healthy so far, in infected block
c4-15-19 tree: Trees healthy so far, in infected block
UF 5-1-99-5UF 5-1-99-5: Medium Large size, Thinner Rind, Late Nov, Dec Maturation, Dark Red, uniform sections, Great flavor, slight bitterness, Juicy/uniform fruit, FC content high
UF 5-1-99-5: Medium Large size, Thinner Rind, Late Nov, Dec Maturation, Dark Red, uniform sections, Great flavor, slight bitterness, Juicy/uniform fruit, FC content high
UF 5 -1 -99 -5 treeUF 5 -1 -99 -5 tree
UF 5 -1 -99 -5 tree
pummelettePummelette: Avg size similar to GF, Non-bitter, sweet High ratio – around 16-19 by Christmas, Fewer seeds than most pummelo, Low FC’s, Appears more tolerant of canker
Pummelette: Avg size similar to GF, Non-bitter, sweet High ratio – around 16-19 by Christmas, Fewer seeds than most pummelo, Low FC’s, Appears more tolerant of canker
pummelette treepummelette tree
pummelette tree
seedless snackSeedless Snack: Seedless, Good flavor, Firm flesh, Oct-Nov maturity, Uniform fruit, Productive, Peelable, but not zipper skin
Seedless Snack: Seedless, Good flavor, Firm flesh, Oct-Nov maturity, Uniform fruit, Productive, Peelable, but not zipper skin
seedless snack treeseedless snack tree
seedless snack tree
N2-28 summer gold grapefruitSummer gold grapefruit (N2-28): Reaches maturity mid-season, Holds through July, True grapefruit, Slight blush on some fruit, Color fades deeper in season, Brix/acid higher than other varieties, Fruit size is typical of grapefruit
Summer gold grapefruit (N2-28): Reaches maturity mid-season, Holds through July, True grapefruit, Slight blush on some fruit, Color fades deeper in season, Brix/acid higher than other varieties, Fruit size is typical of grapefruit
711711: High quality Mid-season tangerine, Sister of 411, Exceptional flavor, Appears high yield, Good post-harvest, Easy peel, Dark red/orange peel and flesh, Some seeds
711: High quality Mid-season tangerine, Sister of 411, Exceptional flavor, Appears high yield, Good post-harvest, Easy peel, Dark red/orange peel and flesh, Some seeds
Aurora UF SunriseAurora UF Sunrise: Seedless, Easy Peel, Mid-Nov – Mid Dec, Self Fertile, Cold Tolerant, Slight neck, Lower brix, lower acid – mild, 104g size
Aurora UF Sunrise: Seedless, Easy Peel, Mid-Nov – Mid Dec, Self Fertile, Cold Tolerant, Slight neck, Lower brix, lower acid – mild, 104g size
Aurora UF DawnAurora UF Dawn: Seedless, Easy Peel, Early – Mid Dec, Self Fertile, Cold Tolerant, Some Sheep Nose, Slight neck, Lower brix, lower acid – mild, 110g size
Aurora UF Dawn: Seedless, Easy Peel, Early – Mid Dec, Self Fertile, Cold Tolerant, Some Sheep Nose, Slight neck, Lower brix, lower acid – mild, 110g size

Tier II and Tier III

Tier II is commercial production for those Tier I growers who either wish to expand their trials beyond 30 trees – or produce commercially. Growers must execute a Tier II Grower Agreement before ordering Tier II trees. The royalty for Tier II is $1.70 per tree and collected by the nursery. Any nursery can register to produce Tier II trees, but their potential customer list is only Tier II growers.

Any variety in Tier II is now also in Tier III. Tier III is open trial or commercial production for any interested grower who did not participate in the Tier I trial process. Any nursery may register to produce trees for Tier III growers. The royalty is $2.75/tree and is collected by the nursery.

FAST TRACK Selections in Tier II & III:

Suite I: 950, 914

Suite II: RBB 7-34

Suite III: UF Glow, Bingo

RBB 7-34RBB 7-34: Navel-like orange/mandarin hybrid, Round shape. Vastly superior color, Productivity not known, High Brix (15), High acid 1.0-1.1, Very good flavor, Seedless triploid, Peel like navel
RBB 7-34: Navel-like orange/mandarin hybrid, Round shape. Vastly superior color, Productivity not known, High Brix (15), High acid 1.0-1.1, Very good flavor, Seedless triploid, Peel like navel
UF 950UF 950: Easy peel, Seedless, Clementine size, Better average color than Clementine, Better flavor than Clementine, Dec maturity. Ratios 13-16, Production Q’s
UF 950: Easy peel, Seedless, Clementine size, Better average color than Clementine, Better flavor than Clementine, Dec maturity. Ratios 13-16, Production Q’s
UF 914UF 914: Great color, Blush on peel, Grapefruit Size, Low in FC’s, Seedless, Good brix, lower acid, Slightly thicker peel
UF 914: Great color, Blush on peel, Grapefruit Size, Low in FC’s, Seedless, Good brix, lower acid, Slightly thicker peel
Aurora UF GlowAurora UF Glow: Seedless, Easy Peel, Mid Oct – Mid Nov, Self Fertile, Cold Tolerant, Lower brix, lower acid – mild, 120g size
Aurora UF Glow: Seedless, Easy Peel, Mid Oct – Mid Nov, Self Fertile, Cold Tolerant, Lower brix, lower acid – mild, 120g size
bingo varietyBingo: easy-peel, seedless mandarin approved for release – showing good HLB tolerance!
Bingo: easy-peel, seedless mandarin approved for release – showing good HLB tolerance!
7-6-27 orangeBingo (closeup): Easy Peel, Seedless, Good segment structure, Mid Oct – Nov, 14.32 ratio by Oct., Single 8 year old tree, Three negative qPCR tests, Few/No HLB symptoms
Bingo (closeup): Easy Peel, Seedless, Good segment structure, Mid Oct – Nov, 14.32 ratio by Oct., Single 8 year old tree, Three negative qPCR tests, Few/No HLB symptoms

Marathon Mandarin

Suite IV contained one variety – the Marathon. FAST TRACK was modified for Suite IV – essentially combining Tiers and putting the grower in charge. The grower can determine whether to put in a small trial, large trial, multiple trials, or commercial planting. The only limitation is the availability of budwood. Growers and nurseries may register at any time, though the first trees that will be budded in October 2019 – will go to those who registered early. The Royalty for Marathon is $2.00 per tree and collected by the nursery. Read more about Marathon here and here.

Questions?

For trial or commercial opportunities with UF/IFAS, USDA-ARS or private varieties, contact us>>>

NVDMC Varieties

Coming Soon