Fast facts:
Ozark MangoTM is seventh nectarine introduced by Arkansas Fruit Breeding Program
Sweet nectarine harvested in late June
New variety has standard acidity, orange flesh
CLARKSVILLE — Ozark MangoTM , the seventh nectarine introduced by the Arkansas Fruit Breeding Program, is a yellow-fleshed and standard-acid-level nectarine tailored for growers in the Southeast or Mid-South of the United States.
Ozark Mango™ is "the nectarine that I always look forward to picking and the one that I always bring home to my family," said Margaret Worthington, director of the Fruit Breeding Program for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Ozark Mango™ is typically harvested around July 1 at the Fruit Research Station in Clarksville, which is similar to Bradley and about one week before Bowden and Amoore Sweet nectarines.
“Over 13 years of trials, Ozark Mango™ had an average Brix of 15 percent, indicating that it is very sweet,” Worthington said. “It also has a pleasant aroma and flavor that I would describe as ‘tropical’ or ‘mango-like’.”
A ripe Ozark Mango™ measures about 3 inches in diameter with about 65 percent of its surface taking on a blushed color. When sliced open, it reveals a “beautiful yellow-orange flesh that complements its outstanding flavor,” Worthington said.
Worthington noted that Ozark Mango™ is similar to other clingstone, non-melting flesh varieties and exhibits “excellent post-harvest potential,” allowing for storage between 14 to 21 days while maintaining its quality. A clingstone and non-melting nectarine means that the fruit's flesh adheres tightly to the pit and maintains its firm texture even when fully ripe, without becoming soft.
"Ozark Mango™ exhibits remarkable resilience in the face of challenging bacterial spot pressure at the Fruit Research Station," Worthington said. "It shows no cracking on the fruit and displaying tolerance to symptoms on the leaves."
The new variety is estimated to be a mid-chill nectarine appropriate for areas with 600 to 800 chill hours a year, she added.
“Ozark Mango™ is, in my opinion at least, the tastiest thing we have on this farm,” she said. “It’s too good not to share.”
