Two new sweet orange varieties—Kawatta (from Suriname) and Majorca (from Florida)—were officially launched at the 50th Expocitros event in São Paulo. Evaluated since the early 1990s, both outperform Brazil's widely cultivated early varieties, Hamlin and Valencia Americana, in juice quality, flavor, and color.
Developed by Embrapa and partners, the new oranges mature early (May–August), making them ideal for citrus farming due to faster harvesting, reduced drought risk, and potential for mechanization. They yield over 30 tons per hectare without irrigation and are compatible with major rootstocks used in São Paulo.
Researchers highlight the industry's challenge with current early varieties—limited cultivar diversity and lower-quality juice—particularly for high-value non-concentrated pasteurized juice. Kawatta and Majorca offer a promising solution.
Source: abrafrutas.org