I understand that satsumas were once a leading crop here. What happened? Baldwin and Mobile counties were a buckle on what was once known as the "Satsuma Belt." The Japanese Mandarin Satsuma, introduced to the United States in 1876, was being grown in Alabama within two years. The fruit is similar to a tangerine, but has far fewer seeds, and its thinner rind is easier to peel. By the early 1900s, commercial planting of the fruit was taking place across the Gulf Coast. New towns in Alabama, Florida and Louisiana were named Satsuma. Baldwin County's first trees arrived from Boston in 1898. By 1904, an orchard had been planted there. Commercial orchards were established in Mobile County, from Fowl River to Wilmer. In 1915, former Oregon Sen. Jonathan Bourne Jr. established his Carol Plantation in Theodore. He planted 36,000 satsuma trees and 7,000 pecan trees. As another example, the Horticultural Development Company of St. Louis purchased over 5,000 acres, which were west of today's Mobile Airport. They hired J. Lloyd Abbot as superintendent of the orchards. A LAND BOOM An important financial aspect of these projects was the subdivision of the lands for small farms. Brochures were sent north explaining that by planting the property in both pecans and satsumas the farmer could lead a leisurely existence. According to one such pamphlet, satsumas, when ripe were in no rush to be harvested and the pecans just dropped from the trees. Both crops, it said, could be collected whenever it was convenient. How many believed this and purchased land as a result has gone unrecorded. In 1915, the Gulf Coast Citrus Exchange began to introduce the fruit to northern markets under the label "Sugar Sweet." Satsumas were pricier than oranges, but had the benefit of being ripe well in advance of other popular citrus. By the early 1920s, the exchange was operating eight packing plants in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Hundreds of train carloads headed north. THE BOOM GOES BUST The satsuma boom came to a frosty end. In 1934, a late spring freeze caught most farmers out of oil for their smudge pots. Thousands of trees died. Thanks to the Depression, there was also a decline in consumers able to afford pricey citrus. Another severe freeze in November 1940 dealt the crops the final blow. It put an end to the once flourishing industry in lower Alabama. The good news is, not all the satsuma trees died in those freezes. Many have survived to this day and are still producing the sweet fruit the nation could not get enough of so long ago. While most Americans have forgotten the fruit's existence, many Gulf Coast residents are lucky enough to own a tree and still enjoy the sweet citrus. Tom McGehee is director of Bellingrath Gardens and Home. Image information: Satsuma orchards were plentiful throughout the Gulf Coast until the Depression and a severe freeze in 1940 dealt a double blow to the industry.