"New citrus variety "Super Nova" hits US market"
In 1966, a citrus-breeder from Orlando called Jack Hearn created the fruit by cross-breeding two sibling mandarin varieties, the Lee and the Nova. After further breeding he was able to create a hybrid which was seedless, however the trees wouldn't bear fruit.
“In 34 years, I’ve seen it yield a good crop exactly once,” says Randall Driggers, a researcher for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Decades later, he decided to send some branches to California to see if they could fare better. A few growers planted groves of the hybrid fruit - then catchily known as the USDA 88-2, Lee x Nova or Novalee - including LoBue Citrus, who planted 70 acres in 2010. Under their supervision the trees are finally producing decent yields.
Robert LoBue, the general manager of LoBue Citrus, eventually settled on Super Nova. The name was, he says, “inspired by the fruit’s bright orange colour and blazing flavour,” according to the LA Times.
The new variety is now on sale in the US market and is expected to come to the UK sometime in the near future.
source: independent.co.uk