Early Evaluation Varieties
Suit of Four California Seedless Mandarins available for grower trials and nursery contracts.
Three of the varieties are triploids derived from the same parental cross [(Temple x Dancy) X Encore]. These three are referred to as TDE’s. 
- Tahoe Gold™
- This is the earliest of the TDE trio. This is a small-medium sized fruit – with deep orange rind color (in California). Its estimated maturity in Florida would be Nov-Dec. The tree is fairly thorny, and it does tend to alternate bear (can be controlled with pruning, thinning and canopy management).
Most plantings to date have been mixed, so it is not known whether a pollinizer is needed to set fruit. This fruit does not hold well on tree for extended periods of time. The fruit does have good flavor. Its peels “ok” – but not as well as the other two.
- This is the earliest of the TDE trio. This is a small-medium sized fruit – with deep orange rind color (in California). Its estimated maturity in Florida would be Nov-Dec. The tree is fairly thorny, and it does tend to alternate bear (can be controlled with pruning, thinning and canopy management).
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Shasta Gold™
- This fruit is large and moderately flat in appearance. Nice orange color rind, and reasonably easy to peel (in California). The trees are somewhat thorny, and also tend to alternate-bear. Good flavor. Estimated maturity is Dec – January. Like the others, it is not known whether a pollinizer is required. Use of a pollinizer would make sense in the early going. Fruit holds very well for extended periods of time.
- This fruit is large and moderately flat in appearance. Nice orange color rind, and reasonably easy to peel (in California). The trees are somewhat thorny, and also tend to alternate-bear. Good flavor. Estimated maturity is Dec – January. Like the others, it is not known whether a pollinizer is required. Use of a pollinizer would make sense in the early going. Fruit holds very well for extended periods of time.
- Yosemite Gold™
- Like the Shasta Gold, this fruit is estimated to mature in the Dec-January Window. The fruit is large and moderately flat. The fruit holds reasonably well on the tree, though not as long as the Shasta. Peelability and flavor are good (in California). Trees are somewhat thorny, and tend to alternate bear. Pollinizer issue is the same. We have seen this fruit get a little puffy late in its maturity in California.
- Like the Shasta Gold, this fruit is estimated to mature in the Dec-January Window. The fruit is large and moderately flat. The fruit holds reasonably well on the tree, though not as long as the Shasta. Peelability and flavor are good (in California). Trees are somewhat thorny, and tend to alternate bear. Pollinizer issue is the same. We have seen this fruit get a little puffy late in its maturity in California.
The fourth variety is the Gold Nugget. The Gold Nugget is a cross between Wilking and Kincy. This variety is separate and apart from the TDE suit. 
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Gold Nugget fruit is very similar in appearance and flavor to the Pixie. It is seedless in mixed plantings. Rind color is a gold-orange. Very good flavor. Easy to peel and holds very well on the tree (up to June in California). It is estimated that the fruit may mature as early as December and it is hoped that it may hold until March. The Gold Nugget produces some viable pollen, so it can cause seediness in compatible varieties. In California, the Gold Nugget has been viable in all areas except the Southern desert. Florida remains a question mark.
Nurseries interested in signing field trail propagation agreements will have an opportunity to start a budwood supply, in the event one or more of these prove to have commercial potential. Contact NVDMC for more information. Grower trial agreements are also available.
The Early Pride Tangerine is a Fallglo mutation. The Early Pride resembles the Fallglo tangerine in all ways, except it is very low seeded. Many of the Early Pride Tangerines are completely seedless, but those that have seeds, are four or less. This fruit matures quite early in the season and would be one of the first crops harvested for many packers. The fruit trends towards the large size range.
The USDA Early Pride is available to Florida Growers through the Early Evaluation Program. Early Evaluation allows the growers to sign a grower agreement and have trees propagated for test purpose. In return for earlier access to the USDA Early Pride Tangerine, participating growers agree to share information about their experience with NVDMC and USDS-ARS, as well as grant access to the plantings.
Florida growers interested in growing the USDA Early Pride Tangerine should contact Peter Chaires at 407-302-3510, or jpchaires@bellsouth.net.
This USDA grapefruit hybrid is a white fleshed seedless fruit that matures very early. The U.S. Seedless Surprise matures in September in Florida – providing growers and packers and early variety that has performed quite well in consumer studies. The U.S. Seedless Surprise is non-bitter and low acid. This fruit has proven popular with those who like grapefruit AND those who do not like grapefruit. The fruit is approximately the same size as Marsh grapefruit. The U.S. Seedless Surprise cannot be pictured due to patent concerns. The lineage of the variety cannot be listed on this site for the same reason. This variety is available for Early Evaluation in Florida through NVDMC. The variety has not known resistance to citrus canker or HLB.
