Just a bit of grumble - picked up what was advertised as a 'Sweetie' at one of the local supermarkets a couple days ago (and paid a premium for a single fruit) and tried it today. Not bad - it was indeed sweet, but as it turns out, it wasn't a true 'Sweetie'. After researching it a bit, nearest I can figure out is that it was 'Oro Blanco' pummelo-grapefruit hybrid. Ah well. Grapefruit via Purdue's New Crops
Re: Sweetie not Sweetie Looks like Sweetie is a synonym (probably for marketing purposes) of Oroblanco which is the true varietal name. I believe Sunkist sells them as the latter. Where did you buy it from? I would like to conduct my own taste test. This is around the same time last year that Ugli fruits were available at the Superstore. I enjoyed the ones I tried then and will be going back for more. Cara Cara navel oranges are available now; highly recommended if you haven't tried them yet.
Re: Sweetie not Sweetie Save-On Foods, at the Metrotown location. I recommend eating only the vesicles (the juicy parts inside the slices) - eating the "skin" of the slices adds back the typical grapefruit taste. I've been eating Cara Caras for a few weeks now - at this time of year, I seek out and buy exclusively Cara Caras and blood oranges, if at all possible. Our organic food biweekly delivery coming on Thursday has both in the order. It doesn't really need to be said with fruit, but the closer you are to where they pick them off the tree, it seems, the better they are. We had some Cara Caras last spring while in California - those were the best I've had yet.
Re: Sweetie not Sweetie Thanks for the tip. I think I'll peel it like a pummelo. Walheim, stated in his book Citrus: Also, Agreed. Even the calamondins and limequats fresh off my trees, though sour (but not overly so), are full of flavor. I'm really looking forward to tasting my lemons.
Re: Sweetie not Sweetie I'm finding information about 'Sweetie' and 'Oroblanco' to be confusing. I noted some online references stating the two were the same, and others stating not - photographs of each online seem to differ, as well as origins, e.g., 'Oroblanco' coming out of California in the 1950s, while 'Sweetie' hybridized in Israel in the 1980s as mentioned in the grapefruit link above.
Re: Sweetie not Sweetie I just noticed Sunkist has them listed separately on its Seasonal Specialties page. The information at Jaffa, the Citrus Marketing Board of Israel, may be helpful. Unfortunately I can't navigate it with Firefox. Daniel, did your fruit come with any identifying markers/labels to identify its origin?
Re: Sweetie not Sweetie You can still get Ugli fruit?? They're very nice, but they've not been on sale here for at least 10 years. No idea why not - I'd assumed the growers had ripped them all out to replace with something that sells more easily, even if it tastes less good.
Re: Sweetie not Sweetie Try contacting the UK importer for the fruit for leads on local retailers. Here is the Importers page at the Ugli site.
I've edited the thread title by adding a question mark. Thanks for that Sunkist link - if I recall correctly, the fruit was labelled as being from Sunkist, and it certainly said Sweetie. The Sunkist site is the only online resource I've come across so far that noted the fruit turning from green to yellow, so perhaps it is indeed what it is advertised as. Perhaps for North American consumers, they thought yellow fruit would market better, whereas for consumers from Israel, green fruit?
Univ. Of California's (UCR) Oroblanco Grapefruit Hybrid's degree of sweetness increases the longer the fruit remains on the tree. Oroblanco fruit that are held on the tree until December/January yield and average soluble solids (Sugar) to acid ration of 15.5. (meaning the sugar content is 15 times greater that the acid content). Oroblanco's cousin Melogold Grapefruit Hybrid is also a UCR patented grapefruit hybrid crossed from the same two parents as was Oroblanco, and by the same UCR hybridizers. I currently grow both the Oroblanco and Melogold which are very vigorous trees. For sweetness UCR's Cocktail Pummelo which is a cross between the same pummelo parent used in Oroblanco and Melogold with a mandarin. Cocktail when held on the tree until complete maturity reaches a sugar/acid of ratio nearly 20. Millet Sempringham Lincolnshire
I did revisit the store - the product label in the stack of fruit said 'Sweetie', but the Sunkist label on the fruit said 'Oroblanco' - mystery solved.
Which one did you go to and when? I tried two different stores in Richmond last week without finding any fruit.
I've obtained this information out of California from a most knowledgeable and long term individual in the California Citrus industry. I withhold his name at this point. >>>>"University of California (UCR) system, received a notice recently from the Citrus Board in Israel claiming that the name "Sweetie" has been trademarked by the Israelis. The Israelis are stating that they bred the Sweetie. It is believed that all they did was take an Oroblanco and graft it onto a seedling grown rootstock, grow the grafted tree on, and then take the seed from the fruit of the grafted tree and germinate it. Then the seed that was taken from the fruit of the grafted "Oroblanco" tree was germinated, grown on and then give it a name. There is no doubt in my mind this is what Israel did to call their Citrus a Sweetie and trademark the name. Now, the Israelis are stating that they bred the Sweetie."<<<< - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The "cultural" practice listed above is not unique to this particular Oroblanco/Sweetie situation. This type of practice is carried on, not only in citrus, but other plants as well. In my opinion Oroblanco/Sweetie one in the same. Therefor UCR receives no royalty. Millet Sempringham Lincolnshire
Score! A bagful of Oroblancos (Sunkist 3092). Thanks, Daniel. I can't recall going through so much trouble for fruit - hope it was worth it. Also picked up some Red Pummelos (Sunkist 3129) from the Superstore down the street. Is there ongoing litigation regarding this matter? If so, please post updates.
I'd be very surprised if they could get a name like 'sweetie' trademarked, the word has been in widespread general use for decades as a childrens' colloquial term for sweets (US: candies). Words in the public domain can't be trademarked.
Michael F, thank you for your interest in the "Sweetie" conversation and your input. Most certainly names such a "Sweetie" can be trademarked, such words are trademarked all the time. Not only is there a citrus variety with a common word (name) like "Sweetie" trademarked there are other trademarked citrus varieties using common words -- "Sunrise." There must be over 50 areas that you can read about the trademark of "Sweetie," I show here just one that was originally sent to me in an E-mail from my friend Mr. Shep. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - U.S. Department of Commerce Patent and Trademark Office Meeting in Orange County, California on Agricultural Intellectual Property Rights Issues Thursday, June 6, 2002 Proceedings: ........Another issue that came up is from one of our growers that markets what's called California Sweetie into Japan. It's, a prod-assignment was developed here in California through the UC system, and they received a notice recently from the Citrus Board in Israel claiming that that name has been trademarked, yet the California Sweetie is a varietal name that's even designated in the California State Code requiring that the name be placed on the carton, not as a label, but just as a variety. These are some of the areas that our growers are facing that they certainly need some assistance in, and I would hope that we would look at perhaps developing some kind....... The above is an excerpt from the United States Department of Patents and Trademarks meeting, concerning trademark infringements of many different agricultural items. http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/speeches/testmony2002jun6.htm If you are interested in further reading on this and other legalities concerning trademark issues in their entirety go to the United States Department of Patents and Trademarks web site. Anyway, thank you for you interest. Take care. Millet
Does that mean that they will try to fine everyone for breach of trademark regulations every time they use the word 'sunrise', even if they are talking about the sun appearing above the horizon? That is the implication. I can't see how they could possibly defend that in court.
Local citrus connoisseurs may be interested to know that Melogold (Sunkist 3152) is currently available at IGA stores. It's another grapefruit/pummelo hybrid and is a sister to Oroblanco as mentioned upthread. The latter was recently reported to be available again at Save-On Foods.
People who like Oro Blanco, (commercially known as "Sweetie"), should also appreciate the variety Melo Gold. The longer both fruits remain on the tree, the higher is the total soluble solids (sugars) concentration. Therefore the later in the season that the fruits are picked the sweeter tasting they become. Unfortunately, the earliest fruits (true for all citrus varieties) on the market normally receive the highest prices, thus the greatest return for the grower. Some people are disappointed in the sweetness, which is caused by the early rush to market. I grow both varieties, and normally leave them hang on the tree until well into February, or even early March. Commonly, a difference of 3 or 4 percent sugar concentration can develop between early season fruit and late season fruit. The sugar concentrations of all citrus varieties increase, and the acid concentrations decrease as the season progresses. Early Oro Blanco or Melo Gold fruit can cost as much as $1.50 - $1.75 US each in our local stores. . - Millet
The melogolds were delicious. They were indeed ripe judging by their golden yellow skin and their sweetness. For local citrus consumers Oroblancos are currently available at Stong's Market. It's too bad these two varieties are available for such short periods in our area. Hopefully that would change as more people discover them.
When we see a trade name that the fruit is being sold by we need to take a look at the sides of the carton the fruit came in. I do wish this stuff never did happen but it is becoming more common to see the name the fruit is being sold by has a different name on the carton. Last year I saw some Nova Mandarins being sold by that name that came in from Spain. I knew of Nova as being a Tangelo (a US Department of Agriculture introduction, page 313 of the Jackson/Davies Citrus Growing in Florida book). When I looked at the carton I saw that the Novas had Ortanique stamped on the sides of the carton. So, neither were the Novas a Tangelo and they were not a Mandarin either, if we believe people that an Ortanique is a Tangor. I like both Oroblanco and Melogold held longer on the tree also. Just my opinion but I like the Melogold a little better than I do the Oroblanco. The Cocktail we have had for one year had some fruit split during the warmer portion of the Summer. So we cannot say how it is but will have to wait until later on to evaluate it from our tree or buy some from a local Farmers Market to try out, unless we see some come into the grocery stores. Jim
I can't detect any difference in taste between Oroblanco and Melogold. The only reason I prefer Melogold is the perceived value base on its larger size and thinner peel.
I just found in my notes from last years Lindcove Citrus tasting that there is a Nova Mandarin - Vl 282. The Melogold that we seem to like the best have all come from a local Farmers Market. Jim
