"This year we are kicking off the campaign with much more positive prospects than last season, when we suffered serious issues because of the low calibres and poor colouring. The quality this year is much higher, with high uniformity in both sizes and colouration; a sign that the mandarins contain optimal levels of sugar for consumption," stated David López, of the Commercial Department of Cítricos Asunción López.
The uniformity in calibres is mainly due to the lower production in the trees, which will be of around 11% in the case of early mandarins, including the Okitsu Satsuma. With lower production and a market with fewer volumes from the Southern Hemisphere, initial prices are much more attractive.
"The citrus season in the Southern Hemisphere is almost ending, as most producing countries had started earlier than last year. Therefore, the market is now awaiting the Spanish produce, which is reaching up to 15 cents higher prices than at the start of last year's season," affirms David López.
"This has allowed us to increase our activities by 10% with the Okitsu Satsuma; a product on which we strongly rely every year," continues David.
"Not all growers are willing to produce this variety due to the difficulties it entails. Its thin skin makes it prone to diseases and therefore aspects such as moisture, temperature and ethylene in storage must be very carefully controlled," he explains.
David López is currently shipping its mandarins to the domestic market, but next week the first shipments will start being made to markets such as the UK and Austria, as well as more distant destinations like Dubai and Scandinavia.
Cítricos Asunción López will continue shipping Satsuma mandarins until mid-January.
For more information:
David López: +34627542499
Antonio López: +34669478121
CITRICOS ASUNCION LOPEZ S.L.U
La Barraca de Aguas Vivas, Valencia, Spain
TEL/+34962589146
FAX/:+34962588806
info@citricosfrial.com
www.citricosfrial.com