There are a few things I find curious about Dekopon.
- In that (BBC?) documentary of satsuma orchards in Japan, one of those interviewed mentioned having inconsistent flavor with Dekopon. He said they reviewed their log and determined that heavier rains were beneficial, contrary to conventional wisdom.
- The report of how they store them in a temperature controlled room to improve the flavor. I was under the impression that citrus doesn't ripen after being picked.
- People have reported getting some bud source that have fruit with the neck, and some without the neck.
Can you post a link to the BBC doc, or did I miss that.
We have Fuji apples grown in Australia, size of a tennis ball. Quite nice.
Fuji Apples in Japan are twice that size and taste fantastic.
The TLC involved in fruit production to get the high quality fruit in Japan is also seen in other crops, like individual bagging of grape bunches.
As far as I know any fruit exported from Australia must also consider an 'after ripening period' in transit in containers. Any long delays blow the window of saleability.
The treatment of Dekopon is a lot more controlled than shipping protocols. Amazing that they came up with that.
The Australian Sumo fruit I see in my shops are very variable, neck, no neck, pebbly skin, smooth skin, round, flat, pear shape.
All from the same one scion variety of Sumo.
Much the same for other Mandarins, fruit are fairly variable in shape and size, without ID stickers can be confusing.