January was National Citrus Month, but there are plenty of reasons to salute California’s citrus industry all year round.
This month, we’re celebrating the news that one of our favorite citrus varieties — the Tango mandarin — is now royalty-free. With its seedless insides, sweet taste, and easy-to-peel skin, the Tango was developed by the University of California’s Riverside campus and released in 2007. By 2024, Tango mandarins had become so popular that they represented a third of California’s total mandarin acreage. Growers loved them because they were late-season producers, extending mandarin availability by two months. Consumers loved them because they tasted so good.
Although the Tango was protected by a patent for nearly 20 years, American growers can now plant the variety without paying royalties. In other words, the U.S. plant patent has expired. Internationally, growers still need to pay royalties if they want to plant Tango mandarins, with profits helping support ongoing research and variety management.
If you’re planning on adding some Tango acreage to your growing operation, give us a call or pay us a visit. Our supply centers have everything you need — from plant micronutrients to farming tools to full-service irrigation departments — to help ensure a successful crop.