![]() ![]() Within a few years, those first satsuma trees had matured enough to begin producing. Now the manager of Franklin’s Citrus Farm, Renz handles much of the marketing in retail, wholesale and logistics when season is in. What began as a friendly invitation to check out the newly planted trees would develop into an active partnership in the day-to-day operations of the business. During one of his visits, Franklin mentioned his new venture, and it immediately piqued Renz’s interest, reminding him of home, where citrus groves were a way of life. ![]() It was around that same time that Bill Renz, a native of Alva, Florida, had relocated to Statesboro and was working as the manager of a local plant nursery, where Franklin was a frequent customer. In spring 2010, he planted his first satsumas - 200 trees spanning nearly two acres. After a taste of the delicious fruit, he thought, if satsuma trees could thrive in Louisiana, with a climate similar to southeast Georgia, why not Bulloch County?Īfter returning home, Franklin began experimenting with different methods and frost-hardy varieties of citrus in an effort to cultivate a premium piece of fruit that would essentially sell itself. With a thin, leathery skin, they are relatively easy to peel, making them a popular on-the-go snack.įranklin, longtime owner of the beloved Franklin’s Restaurant in Statesboro, was by then retired and had taken a fishing trip to Louisiana when he stumbled upon a small satsuma operation, doing business out of the backs of trucks. Small, sweet and tangy, they are members of the mandarin orange family, along with clementines and tangerines - but unlike tangerines, satsumas are always seedless. Bulloch County and the surrounding areas have long identified as farming communities, with a history of growing some of the most common Georgia crops including pecans, cotton, soybeans and corn.īut in the early 2000s, Statesboro resident Joe Franklin decided that Bulloch County would also be a great place to grow citrus - specifically, satsumas.Īccording to Farmers’ Almanac, satsumas are named after the region in Japan where they were traditionally grown. ![]()
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