Download - FAST TRACK ….. For Nurseries
FAST TRACK ….. For Nurseries
The Current Challenge
• IFAS citrus breeding pipeline is producing• Promising selections have been identified
– The fruit has promise, little else is known
• More selections are coming• Growers and packers don’t want to wait on
extensive traditional field trials• Growers want to be involved in the
evaluation process• Traditional replicated field trials take too long
FAST TRACK• FFSP, IFAS, NVDMC• A means of moving experimental fresh varieties to Florida
growers for evaluation• Florida growers participate in experimental trials and offer input
on commercial decisions• Program is coordinated with Nurseries• Future rates are fixed*
– Encourage grower involvement– Generate revenue to the breeding program
• Reward growers for participating– Reduce future rates and head start
• Allow late adopters to participate• Support IFAS Plant Improvement Program• Three-Tier system
Tier One …… The Trial Stage
The Program• Statewide announcement of the
opportunity
• All Florida growers invited to participate
• Growers sign up for experimental trials
• Enrollment period is 180 days, then closes.
• Sign Evaluation Agreement
• Fruit not for sale
• IFAS staff/faculty involved in process
• Formation of Grower Groups
• Utilize one nursery per selection
The Rate
• $50 participation fee per variety
• Minimum of 5 trees• Maximum of 30 trees• Cost of trees reimbursed
by grower
Tier Two
The Program
• If grower evaluators identify a variety for commercialization ……
• Those in the Tier 1 grower group are eligible to plant commercially
• Favorable Rate• Five year Head Start• Entry of more nurseries
The Rate
• $1.70 per tree• $.20 retained by
managing partner
Tier Three
The Program
• After head start, all interested growers may enter
• No growers are excluded• Rates approximate
commercial fees
The Rate
• $2.75 per tree• $.25 retained by
managing partner
Early Option
• May elect to trigger Tier 2 Commercial Step– Any time during 180 day registration– Any time during tier 1
• Would still pay Tier 1 fee and complete grower requirements (evaluation)
• Patent costs covered by Tier 2 plantings. • If early option is elected, all Tier 1 growers
are notified.
Summary
• IFAS has a high volume of experimental material• FAST TRACK provides
– Enhanced grower involvement– Faster movement to commercialization– Eliminate poor performing selections early– Real-world evaluation– No one excluded– Early adopters rewarded– Incentive pricing– Revenue to research sooner– Coordinated effort with industry, FFSP, IFAS, Nurseries
FAST TRACK Receiving support
• Endorsements– Indian River Citrus League– Florida Citrus Production Managers Assoc.– Florida Citrus Mutual– Florida Citrus Packers– New Varieties Development & Mgt. Corp.– Gulf Citrus Growers Association– FNGLA’s Citrus Nursery Division
• Recommendation to Proceed– Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association– Florida Farm Bureau
Likely Early FAST TRACK Selections
UF 411
• Large Mid Season Mandarin
• Some seeds• Easy peel• Exceptional flavor• Productive
UF 900
• Early Season Mandarin – Sept/Oct
• October ratio 12-14• Some seeds• Great natural early
color• Great flavor• Easy Peel
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 N40W-6-3 “Seedless Snack”
• Seedless• Good flavor• Firm flesh• Oct-Nov maturity• Uniform fruit• Productive• Peelable, but not
zipper skin
C4-15-19
• Early Maturing (Oct – Nov) Seedless Tangerine
• Clementine size• Good ext & int color• Easy peel, improves
with storage• 15-19 brix• Trees healthy so
far, in infected block
UF 914
• Great color• Blush on peel• Grapefruit Size• Low in FC’s• Seedless• Good brix, lower
acid• Slightly thicker peel
UF C2-5-12
• Red-fleshed• Sweet non-bitter• Matures in Nov• Favorite at fruit
shows• Produces primarily
fruit somewhat larger than grapefruit
UF 5-1-99-2 (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
UF 5-1-99-5
• Medium Large size• Thinner Rind• Late Nov, Dec Mat.• Dark Red, uniform
sections• Great flavor, slight
bitterness• Juicy/uniform fruit• FC content high
End
Thank you