Southeastern Citrus Exposition 2007

Cold-hardy satsuma fruit ripen over a

swimming pool in Charleston, South Carolina

Information and internet links on this page can be used as a press release.

This year's Southeastern Citrus Exposition will be held on Saturday, November 17, 2007, at the University of South Carolina Aiken. The Expo will be held in the university’s administration building at 471 University Parkway, Aiken, South Carolina, and as always it features expert speakers, a citrus contest and plant sale.

This year is the Expo's fifth year, and it's attracted a regular following!

2007 Citrus Expo Agenda

   8:00 am

Expo registration and fruit contest entries. All fruit entries must be made by 9:00 am. Contest rules and instructions for fruit preparation can be found below or online at www.sepalms.org.

   9:00 am

Opening welcome by this year’s host, Bob McCartney of Woodlanders Nursery in Aiken.

   9:15 am

Richard Croxton, retired professor at the University of South Carolina, will speak on the success of his 14-year old pink grapefruit. The tree, which began life as a seedling, grows in Mr. Croxton’s back yard in Columbia, and has produced large quantities of commercial-quality grapefruit over the years in a Zone 8 climate.

   9:30 am

Carl Heatwole of Olar, South Carolina, will tell about his first two years of growing an acre of satsumas commercially on his dairy farm in Bamberg County. Experiences include Mr. Heatwole’s use of a micro-jet sprinkler system to protect his trees from cold.

   10:30 am

Coffee break and viewing of the fruit contest entries.

   11:00 am

Question-and-Answer session with our panel of citrus-growing experts.

   11:45 am

Lunchtime. Lunch is included in the registration fee. During the lunch break, the winners of the fruit contest will be announced and ribbons awarded.

   12:45 pm

Raffle drawing for citrus plants. (Proceeds from the raffle help offset the costs of the Expo.)

   1:00 pm

A shuttle bus tour of citrus plantings in Aiken, including the historic Rose Hill Estate (whose lush gardens occupy an entire city block), Hopelands Gardens (Aiken’s outstanding public garden with many rare and interesting plants) and Woodlanders Nursery and its display gardens. The city of Aiken is generously providing the shuttle bus at no cost.

   3:00 pm

The tour and Expo end.

Plant Sale

A plant sale will take place from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm. Attendees are welcome to bring plants for sale, and some are already making plans to bring citrus plants, palms, eucalyptus and other plants. Each vendor is asked to donate a plant for the plant raffle. 

Registration Fee --- Revised Oct. 10, 2007

This year there will be a $3 registration fee per person at the door, and it includes coffee and snacks for the mid-morning break.

However, the registration fee plus a catered box lunch is available for $10. The lunch deal must be arranged in advance by calling Stan McKenzie at 843-389-4831 or e-mailing him at citrusman99@hotmail.com.

There are no lunch options onsite, and many will find the box lunch a more convenient way to have lunch without leaving the Expo. The lunch must be ordered by Tuesday, November 13.

Lodging

For lodging, the Quality Inn at 3608 Richland Avenue West in Aiken (across from Mi Rancho restaurant) offers a special rate of $59.99 per night for those attending the Expo. Mention the Expo to get the discount rate. Phone the hotel at 803-641-1100 or go online at www.choicehotels.com.

Also, the organizers recommend two excellent bed and breakfast inns

Rose Hill Estate at 221 Greenville Street NW, Aiken. Phone 803-648-1181 or visit their website at www.rosehillestate.com.

Annie’s Inn in nearby Montmorenci on U.S. Hwy 78 southeast of Aiken. Phone 803-649-6836 or visit their website at www.anniesinnbnb.com.

Pre-Expo Dinner

At 7:30 pm on Friday evening, November 16, a group of “citraholics” will get together for dinner at Mi Rancho, a Mexican restaurant at 3607 Richland Avenue West in Aiken. All are welcome to attend, and a large private dining room is reserved.

In Addition

Any vendor or individual selling plants is kindly asked to donate at least one plant for the drawing. This will be considered the vendor fee.

Sponsors

Bob McCartney and Woodlanders Nursery, Aiken, South Carolina

Bob and Woodlanders are known for the introduction of many rare and desirable Southeastern native plants, hardy citrus and plants from Asia and Argentina. Visit Woodlanders online at www.woodlanders.net.

The City of Aiken, South Carolina

Lovely Aiken is a small Southern city of gardens, historic homes and broad parkways. A tourist destination in its own right, it is known for as a winter colony and equestrian town. Visit Aiken online at www.aiken.net.

McKenzie Farms Nursery, Scranton, South Carolina

Stan "The Citrusman" McKenzie sells many varieties of cold-hardy citrus trees, palms, traditional fruit trees, vegetables and other plants. Stan will sell citrus trees at the Expo plant sale. Visit McKenzie Farms online at www.mckenzie-farms.com. Email Stan at citrusman99@hotmail.com.

Rahn's Plant Connection, Port Royal, South Carolina

Ned and Faye Rahn sell a large variety of citrus trees and other rare plants and flowers not commonly found in garden centers. Their plants will be available at the plant sale. E-mail Ned and Faye at plantfolks@yahoo.com.

The Southeastern Palm Society

The Southeastern Palm Society is a chapter of the International Palm Society, Members are devoted to growing hardy palms and other extraordinary plants, including hardy citrus. Visit the Southeastern Palm Society online at www.sepalms.org.

Fruit Preparation

1. All fruit entered must be grown by the entrant, either in a container or in the ground.

2. Before submission, fruit should be washed and prepared for eating. Remove any pesticide residue. Judges may have to taste fruit in case of a tie.

3. A minimum of three fruit of a specific cultivar must be donated per entry; for example, three Satsuma fruit are required to qualify as one entry. One of the fruit must be cut in half “against the grain” (as you would a grapefruit) to show the inside of the fruit. (See the illustration above for an example.) Fruit can be returned at the request of the entrant.

4. Fruit must contain at least ½ inch of stem attached; one fruit should have a leaf attached to the stem.

5. Check the category sheet to determine proper entry.

At the Expo

1. Entries must be completed between 8:00 am and 9:00 am. After 9:00 am, entries will not be accepted.

2. At registration, you will be given an entry number to ensure anonymity. Make sure you keep this number with you until the award ceremony.

3. An entry card must be filled out for each entry. Be sure to put your entry number on each card.

4. Blue, red, and white ribbons will be awarded for each category. In addition, there will be a “Best in Show,” “Honorable Mention,” and “Most Unusual” award.

Citrus Categories for the Contest

Any cultivars not listed here will be assigned to a category by the judging coordinator.

There will be a grown-in-ground category and a container-grown category. 

Sweet Orange

Ambersweet

Cara Cara navel

Hamlin

Navel

Parson Brown

Sour Orange

Abers Narrowleaf

Bergamot

Bigaradier Apepu

Boquet des Fleurs

Chinotto

Citrus neoaurantium

Gou Tou

Nansho Daidai (Citrus taiwanica)

Sauvage

Seville

Smooth Flat Seville

Willowleaf

Zhu Luan

Mandarin

Changsha

Clementine

Clem-Yuz 2-2

Clem-Yuz 3-3

Dancy

Juanita

Keraji

Minneola Tangelo

Nasnaran

Orlando Tangelo

Ponkan

Satsuma

Shekwasha

Kumquat & Hybrids

Chang Shou

Fukushu

Hong Kong

Lemonquat

Limequat (Eustis, Lakeland, Tavares)

Marmaladequat

Meiwa

Nagami

Nippon Orangequat

Procimequat

Sunquat                   

Trifoliate Orange

Standard

Flying Dragon

Rubidoux

Trifoliate Hybrids

Citrange (Morton, Troyer, Carrizo, Benton,

     Rusk, etc.)

Citrumelo (Dunstan, Swingle, USDA 80-5,

     etc.)

Citradia

Citrandarin (CiClem #10, Citsuma,

     Changsha x English large, etc.)

Dragon Lime

Complex Hybrids

Citrangequat (Thomasville, Sinton, etc.)

Glen Citrangedin

Razzlequat

SanCitChang

US 119

Lemon

Lisbon

Meyer

Ponderosa

Sanbokan

Ujukitsu

Lime

Bearss

Persian

Grapefruit/Pummelo

Bloomsweet

Duncan

Golden

Marsh

Oroblanco

Pink Marsh

Ruby Red

Thompson

Ichangensis Hybrids

Ichang Papeda

Ichang Lemon

Sudachi

Yuzu

Yuzuquat

Yuzvange