As a result of past weather events in the state, orange production in Tamaulipas will decrease by up to 40 percent this year as nearly 160,000 tons of the expected 400,000 won't be harvested in 2014.
Meanwhile, the price per ton has remained at 1,500 pesos, a price that the farmers engaged in the production of this citrus view as favourable.
Javier Ibarra Echartea, president of the Regional Union of Citrus growers Emiliano Zapata indicated that the price of the Valencia orange fell from 1,000 peso per ton to 700 pesos at the beginning of the year.
The harm to the producers' pocket was strong this year, he said. However, they hope that times will improve thanks to the existing good moisture, use of fertilizers and pest control.
He recalled that last year the price of the Valencia orange was 1,500 pesos per ton, but that the fruit had achieved its best price two years ago, when it was sold at 3,000 pesos, and that its worst price had been at 300 pesos per ton.
"There won't be any oranges left on the trees, it will all be sold but at a very cheap price."
The orange harvest began in early October and ended in February, while the collection of the late production started in early March and will run until August.
Ibarra Ehartea recognized that there are more serious threats that need to be addressed by the sector such as the Huanglongbing or yellow dragon disease, which could devastate almost 40,000 acres of citrus in the state, but that "there are no reports of its presence here, only Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Nuevo Leon and Sonora are safe from this plague."
Source: Laverdad.com.mx