Gold Nugget mandarin prices are average

Despite directly competing with the main variety of spring mandarins, Murcott, demand for Gold Nugget mandarins continues to hold steady. Bulk sales are good with bag sales expected to increase throughout May. Gold Nuggets are currently priced at $1/lb FOB, which is average for this time of year. “Last year’s prices were higher than average,” explains Eric Christensen, of Fruition Sales, “we had a freeze so there were less Gold Nuggets available to meet demand.”

The Gold Nugget mandarin is not bright orange, but instead has a golden skin which is easily peeled. This variety has a long shelf life and is extremely flavorful with the perfect mixture of acids and sugars. “The skin is very rough, but once consumers get over how they look, they love the taste,” adds Christensen.

Fruition Sales grows approximately 85 acres of Gold Nugget mandarins along with five other mandarin varieties including Murcott, Pixie, and Ortanique which will be packed until the end of May. Although considered a small growing operation, Fruition Sales have over 11 years experiencing in handling and packing Gold Nuggets. “We sell domestically to high-end specialty retailers because Gold Nuggets do not handle like an average mandarin,” declares Christensen, “extra precautions are taken when packing and with brushes and rollers because they are sensitive.”

While the current drought in California is hindering growers, it is not affecting many specialty varieties. With limited water resources higher value crops are prioritized over those with lesser pricing.

“With the high heat approaching, water becomes even more important in the growing area,” explains Christensen, “We have a large investment with permanent crops, growers will have tough choices on which trees to maintain and those blocks that might need to be torn out. Late varieties of citrus that carry both mature fruit and the next crop on the tree need to be watered very carefully.”

Despite the harvest season approaching, water is still greatly needed. “Crops which are perennial and permanent require a lot of investment. Growers have to pick and choose which trees to maintain and which to let go,” states Christensen. “We have trees with near mature fruit, and trees that are just blooming, both need to be watered equally.”

Fruition Sales is a grower/Packer/Shipper of citrus fruits grown in the Orosi/Orange Cove area of California.

For more information please contact:
Eric Christensen
Fruition Sales
Tel: 559.626.7917
Fax: 559.626.7968
kim@ripetoyou.com
www.ripetoyou.com