This commodity profile was rendered from
knowledge.domain = commodity, key = tangerine(GDF v2.0, 3173 attributes, 28 sections).Renderer:
commodity_profile_rendererv1.0.0. Source row version:knowledge_forge_gdf_v2.0_export_2026-04-06.
Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Tangerine |
| Scientific name | Citrus reticulata |
| Family / Genus | Rutaceae / Citrus |
| Produce category | Citrus |
| Produce subcategory | Mandarin |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4053 |
| PLU — organic | 94053 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_7574 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 25.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clementine | 35% | Seedless, easy-peeling, bright orange skin, sweet flavor, small to medium size, thin rind. Most popular tangerine variety in US market. |
| W. Murcott (Afourer) | 20% | Late season variety, seedless to few seeds, excellent flavor, deep orange color, very sweet with high sugar content. Also called Murcott Mandarin. |
| Dancy | 8% | Traditional Florida tangerine, rich flavor, somewhat seedy, deep red-orange color, medium size. Historic variety with declining market share. |
| Honey Tangerine (Murcott) | 12% | Very sweet, juicy, some seeds, rich flavor, late season, golden-orange color. Popular in specialty markets. |
| Satsuma | 10% | Cold-hardy, seedless, very easy-peeling, mild sweet flavor, loose skin. Popular in Gulf Coast states. Technically Citrus unshiu but marketed as tangerine. |
| Tango | 7% | Seedless, easy-peeling, mid to late season, bright orange, excellent flavor balance. Growing market presence. |
| Fairchild | 3% | Early season, sweet flavor, easy-peeling, some seeds, medium size, bright orange-red color. |
| Pixie | 2% | Seedless, late season, sweet, easy-peeling, small to medium fruit, minimal rind oil. Specialty market favorite. |
| Sunburst | 2% | Early to mid-season, seedless to few seeds, easy-peeling, sweet-tart balance, bright orange-red color. |
| Ponkan | 1% | Large fruit, sweet flavor, some seeds, loose puffy skin, popular in Asian markets. Limited US commercial production. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 36°F.
- Freezing point: 28.2°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 3 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.2 μL/kg·hr typical (0.1–0.4) |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 10 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Tangerines are non-climacteric citrus with minimal ethylene production and low sensitivity. Primary concern is storing away from strong odor-producing commodities due to absorption susceptibility.
Mixed-load compatibility
citrus_group
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Growing steadily at 3-4% annually driven by easy-peel convenience, kid-friendly portions, and health consciousness. Strong preference for seedless varieties. Cuties and Halos branded programs dominate retail space. Organic segment growing faster at 8-10% annually.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.72 |
| Income elasticity | 0.45 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -0.55 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Clementine | 35% |
| Murcott (Honey) | 22% |
| W. Murcott (Delite) | 18% |
| Satsuma | 12% |
| Dancy | 5% |
| Fairchild | 3% |
| Other varieties | 5% |
Pack sizes
- 40 lb cartons
- 37-38 lb cartons
- 25 lb cartons
- 3 lb consumer bags
- 5 lb consumer bags
- 2 lb clam shells
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T22:30:00.000Z.