Ojai Pixie Tangerines

In June 2004, thanks to the encouragement from Pixie-growing neighbors, Larry and Pat Hartmann, Bill and Karen planted 300 Pixie tangerine trees on a south-facing slope on New Oak Ranch. With that put-the-trees-in-the-ground action, we became members of a loosely-knit, incredibly-generous-with-information group of family growers known as the Ojai Pixie Growers' Association.  As a group, we share information about cultural practices (successes and failures of everything from pruning, fertilizing, harvesting, selling, and cooking with Ojai Pixies) and we work together to support our stalwart leaders, Jim Churchill, Tony Thacher and Emily Ayala in developing and implementing a marketing plan for our locally grown fruit.

Truly seedless these sweet and easy-to-peel "lumpy-bumpy wonders" are the perfect snack … low in sodium, low in acid, high in dietary fiber and very high in vitamins A and C, these pale orange and moderately juicy, Pixies vary in shape, size and peel texture. In general, they’re small (1-3 inches in diameter), have a pebbly skin and are easy to peel with segments that separate easily from one another.

A Few Ojai Pixie FAQs:

Are Ojai Pixie tangerines a “new fruit?”

Pixie Tangerines have been around since the mid-1960s, when they were first released to the public by citrus breeders from the University of California at Riverside. Because of their small size, the fact that you don’t get any fruit worth harvesting for at least 4 years (and 8 years until the trees become full bearing), their habit of bearing a large crop one year and a small crop the following year, and their late-in-the-season ripening, they were not thought of as a commercial fruit.  However, in the 1980s a small group of fruit growers in Ojai, California discovered that Pixie Tangerines grown in the Ojai Valley are uniquely and wonderfully delicious and by the 1990s the group of Ojai family growers had expanded to almost 20.  Check us out at www.pixietangerine.com.

Where can I buy Ojai Pixie tangerines?

Today, they are available in grocery stores all over the country, at southern California Farmer’s Markets, and on line at www.friendsranches.com.

When are Ojai Pixies in season?

Ojai Pixie harvest begins in March and continues into the early summer or until we run out.

How do I select a good Ojai Pixie?

Some Ojai Pixies are lumpy and bumpy, others have smooth skin, some are big and some are tiny but inside they are all sweet and juicy! In our experience, Pixie tangerines grown in some areas outside of Ojai may not be of the same quality, as Pixies are very sensitive to microclimates and Ojai has the perfect climate to grow perfect, sweet Pixie tangerines. 

Why don't Ojai Pixies have seeds?

The Pixie Tangerine arose from open pollination of a Kincy (King mandarin crossed with Dancy Tangerine) in 1927. This pollination led to fruit that is naturally seedless and was named the Pixie Tangerine. As with seedless Navel oranges, buds have been taken from this tree and grafted onto rootstocks to create all the new Pixie Tangerine trees.

The fact that a fruit or vegetable has no seeds does not mean that it has been irradiated or genetically engineered. Pixie tangerines have been neither irradiated nor genetically engineered.