New Citrus Variety Developed

Taylor Hillman Citrus, General, Specialty Crops, Tree, nut & vine crops

Citrus lovers rejoice: There’s a new variety about to hit shelves. Sabrina Hill has details.
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What do you get when you mix pummelo, Dancy mandarin, and Ruby hybrid? The new “Valentine” citrus. While it is technically a pummelo, it looks like a large grapefruit, has the red juicy pulp of the Ruby hybrid, and the low acidity of the pummelo. When you cut the fruit in half, it looks like a red heart, hence the “Valentine” name.

The new variety is the work of researchers at the University of California, Riverside. They describe the taste as complex and floral, which it gets from the Dancy mandarin in the mix. They also say the fruit has the same healthy antioxidants as other dark-fleshed fruit like pomegranates, blueberries, and blackberries.

For more, and to see a picture of the fruit, click here.