Sixth Annual Southeastern Citrus Exposition 2008

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 15, 2008, in Tifton, Georgia, at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center, located at Exit 64 on I-75.

The Expo will feature an array of expert speakers discussing the latest in hardy citrus cultivation, a citrus fruit contest, plant sale with citrus and other unusual plants offered for sale, and tours of the University of Georgia horticulture research groves.

2008 Citrus Expo Agenda

   8:00 am

Registration and fruit contest entries. All fruit entries must be made by 9:00 am. The Fruit Contest Entry Form can be downloaded from the SPS website, and a form is required for each entry. Please fill out entry forms before arriving. Contest rules and instruction for fruit preparation can be found below.

   9:00 am

Opening welcome. Dr. Joe West, director, UGA Tifton Campus.

   9:15 am

New developments in satsuma cultivation along the Gulf Coast. Dr. Monte Nesbit, Auburn University, Gulf Coast Research Station, Fairhope, Alabama.

   9:45 am

Citrus greening and the quarantine. Wayne Dixon.

   10:15 am

Break and viewing of the fruit contest entries.

   10:30 am

Citrus pest control in your backyard. Jerry Selph, retired Helena Chemical Company technical specialist, Indian River County, Florida.

   11:00 am

Helpful topics in citrus culture and rootstock selection, grafting compatibilities, virus considerations, etc. Dr. Jack Hearn, retired USDA citrus scientist.

   11:30 am

Lunch. A box lunch is included in the registration fee. Winners of the fruit contest will be announced and ribbons awarded.

   12:30 pm

Citrus plant raffle. Proceeds will help offset the cost of the Expo.

   1:30 pm

Walking tour of the citrus research area at the UGA Tifton Campus, led by Dr. Wayne Hanna, UGA Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.

   2:30 pm

Tour of Ornamental Landscape Plant Research, led by Dr. John Ruter, UGA Department of Horticulture, Tifton. Drive to the other side of I-75 on US 41 where the research plots are located.

   3:30

Tour and Expo end.

Plant Sale

A plant sale will take place from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, with citrus, palms, camellias and other plants available. Attendees are welcome to bring plants for sale and vendors are asked to donate one plant for the raffle.

Registration

This year there will be a $15 registration fee per person at the door that includes lunch and refreshments at breaks. There are no lunch options on site.

Directions

Exit 64 off I-75. Follow signs to RDC or Conference Center, which is at the intersection of Highways 41 and I-75 and is visible from I-75.

Lodging

Special rates are associated with events held at the Tifton Campus Conference Center. A Citrus Expo Rate available for reservations made up to November 1 for the night of November 14. All rooms are doubles.

   Holiday Inn, $62 plus tax, 229-382-6687

   Hampton Inn, $90 plus tax, 229-382-8800      

   Comfort Inn & Suites, $70 plus tax, 229-382-8250

   Fairfield Inn, $89 plus tax, 229-387-8288

   Courtyard by Marriott, $99 plus tax, 229-388-0803

Other Tifton hotels can be found online at Tifton, GA - Motels, Hotels, Inns, Lodging.

Pre-Expo Dinner

At 7:30 pm on Friday, November 14, a group of “citraholics” will get together for dinner at Ole' Times Country Buffet. All are welcome to attend and a large private dining room is reserved. Ole' Times is located on US Route 82, .75 miles east of Exit 62 off I-75.

Sponsors

Dr. Wayne Hanna. Dr. Hanna is conducting citrus research at the Tifton experiment station. His goal is to develop seedless varieties of the best cold-hardy citrus.

Mark Crawford. Mark owns and operates Loch Laurel Nursery in Valdosta, Georgia. Mark specializes in camellias for exhibition and the landscape and grows citrus and ohter winter blooming and winter interest plants. Visit online at www.lochlaurelnursery.com.

Holonville Nursery. Mike and Susan Rivers specialize in cold-hardy palms, Japanese maples and green tea at Holonville Nursery in Williamson, Georgia. They will have plants available at the Expo.

McKenzie Farms Nursery. Stan "the Citrusman" McKenzie of Scranton, South Carolina, sells many varieties of cold-hardy citrus trees, palms, traditional fruit trees, vegetables and other plants. Stan will have plants available at the Expo. Visit online at www.mckenzie-farms.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