What happened to "Sumo" (Dekopon) in the US?

[greg_D]

I remember when these first hit the market they were enormous and always very high quality. Now they are the size of regular oranges (if not smaller) and very hit-or-miss in terms of sugar and acid balance.

Not asking to complain; rather, it seems like home growers could learn from this (i.e. mimic the growing practices that made the original fruit so good, and avoid whatever changes that have caused the quality to go down)

[happyhana]

Agreed. Bought 4 pounds of AC sumo last week, all were small and mostly sour.

[sc4001992]

Many growers in different countries grow them, not all the exact same variety. Read the UCR website, there are 3 accessions, one is good, the rest is not as good.

[Alippincott]

Many growers in different countries grow them, not all the exact same variety. Read the UCR website, there are 3 accessions, one is good, the rest is not as good.

That is fascinating! I wonder how the divergence occured. Perhaps people assumed poly seeds would produce a clone, but in reality it did not. I've always questioned the validity of citrus poly seeds. I don't know if I have seen proof of a sumo seed producing an exact clone yet

[happyhana]

While there are three different accessions legally in the US that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily different genetically.

The videos I’ve watched on Sumo cultivation in US and greenhouse growing conditions of Shiranui in Japan show how fruit quality is greatly impacted by culture.

The poor fruit I had was from AC Sumo whose accession has the oldest and most direct lineage to original Japanese cultivar. Whoever grew these fruits did not take the same care I saw from a Sumo grower on YouTube.

[Rmck22]

It could be many things. It could be there expanded there range to areas not quite as good for quality. Could be growers having different cultural practices but it’s likely now that the brand has gotten bigger and having higher demands they have been more lax on end product at the packing house. They are marketing there smaller pieces to get greater pack out percentages. It happens a lot when there is high demand from something. I don’t mind the size because some times I don’t want a huge piece. Sugar to acid ratio is definitely the packing house taking low sugar fruit maybe due to the increase of demand and harvesting younger plants that have been recently planted in the last 4 years or so.

[happyhana]

Yes, whatever the cause the Sumo brand is being damaged, especially when they charge a premium price.

Probably the packing house. In one video they sampled fruit from inside the canopy and north side of tree. Both were acidic and lacked full flavor, grower said these cannot go to market.

[SoCalGardenNut]

This year, I was only able to buy 5 from the Supermarket, I learn how to pick citrus from picking my own citrus fruit, so no disappointment so far. But I’m waiting for my own Sumo.

[brian]

The ones I am growing are massive and sweet.  Greenhouse growing in Pennsylvania isn't exactly prime conditions, especially compared to Japan's reputation for attentive treatment of fancy produce.  I dunno how theirs are so small.

[Millet]

My wife purchased 4 Sumo from the store.  They were nether sweet nor sour, just flavorless.

[Seanny]

I ate 3 of the largest on my tree.
2 were good, 1 were sour.
I need to wait longer.

[Alippincott]

I'm curious what rootstock they use in Japan compared to here. In Japan it seems they keep things more compact, so they are perhaps using slower rootstocks like FD. I have seen videos where they make sure a SINGLE mango tree is growing ONE mango. Here is the US it might be different. I am using C35, which I have heard many mixed things about.

Some people say it is not good long term (mandarins decline after 20-30 years on C35 apparently?)
Some people say commercial growers are using C35 for Sumo.
Others have recommended C35 with good results.

I wonder if I should have done flying dragon instead.

[brian]

My sumo tree, just took a few pictures today:


The fruits are large

[jbirdfunk]

My sumo tree, just took a few pictures today:

Great looking fruit

Here is one of my trees. They a still a somewhat tart but very good. They just don’t have the distinctive knob on top. Labeled Shiranui

[Galatians522]

Didn't I read in the news that California instituted more stringent water restrictions on ag properties a couple years ago? I know that could that have impacted fruit size, but depending on when the shortage occurred it could also have affected tree health and brix. It might also explain the similar thread about how shine muscat grapes from California are not as good this year.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.npr.org/2021/10/07/1037369959/new-protections-for-californias-aquifers-are-reshaping-the-states-central-valley&ved=2ahUKEwj8w66xtJeLAxXzSTABHRZGExgQFnoECBoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2-4PQa7rlLocLaGFXPED8I

[eyeckr]

Brian's Sumo are amazing!

[Millet]

Brian I certainly agree with Eyeckr that your Sumo tree really looks healthy and this years crop on your tree looks amazing..

[Peep]

I'm curious what rootstock they use in Japan compared to here.

They use Trifoliate. They used to use Yuzu, but due to CTV they changed to the more resistant Trifoliate.

[bussone]

I'm curious what rootstock they use in Japan compared to here.

They use Trifoliate. They used to use Yuzu, but due to CTV they changed to the more resistant Trifoliate.

Now I wonder if Japan has any interesting trifoliate strains.

[sc4001992]

FYI, I went to a citrus tasting the other day. We had about 50 different ripe fruits to try. Many different sources of sumo from peoples trees. I had 4 different sumo fruits on my trees..

Result of the taste test regarding where sumo rated. It was only rated best was 8 out of 10. I thought some sumo's I took tasted pretty good, but when you compare the flavor, sweetness, and overall taste, it is only 8 out of 10. There were other citrus that rated 10 out 10, three different citrus varieties took this honor, all were mandarins.

[greg_D]

I'm curious what rootstock they use in Japan compared to here.

They use Trifoliate. They used to use Yuzu, but due to CTV they changed to the more resistant Trifoliate.

They still use yuzu but to inarch. Makes varieties traditionally grown on yuzu rootstock last longer on trifoliate

[jbtx1234]

When I am at different stores, for example HEB versus Kroger, I see different quality and size of Sumos.  It appears that Kroger tends to buy less premium fruit.  Maybe over time as the brand name has gained recognition, the stores have started buying cast offs in order to increase their profit.  I've also noticed HEB marketing "HEB Deko's" this year, so they are contracting from other farms for this variety of fruit under their private label.  Sumo citrus is just a registered trade mark for a brand of Dekopon/Shiranui citrus.

[Millet]

 jbtx1234 thanks for your above post on Kroger's less than quality fruit.  The flavorless Sumo fruit in my above post was purchased from Kroger.
                   

[Kevin Jones]

My first Sumo:


Kevin

[Nick C]

My sumo tree, just took a few pictures today:


The fruits are large

Brian , do you remember where you sourced your tree from? Mine doesn’t produce top knobs anywhere close to yours