With demand outstripping supplies, the market for lemons from California right now is strong. Fruit sizes coming out of the state are skewing smaller, and the market looks to remain the way it is until at least this summer.“The market is very strong right now,” said Jeff Olsen of The Chuck Olsen Company. “Prices will go up, and it will be a tough road until we get fruit from District Three.” Olsen explained that there's a good amount of fruit on trees in District Two, where current production is centered, and, with water shortages, the trees have fewer resources to spread out over more fruit.
“There's not enough water to help the fruit grow,” said Olsen. “There's a fair amount of size 200 lemons, but supplies for size 140 fruit and larger are very tight and will continue to be tight through the summer until we start Mexico or District Three in August.” On May 11, prices for a carton of 75s were between $29.80 and $35.90 out of California's Southern District. Prices for a carton of 140s were between $36.80 and $41.90, and for a carton of 200s, prices were between $21.80 and $25.90.
“Prices are high everywhere, on all sizes,” said Olsen, “and I expect them to continue through summer.”
For more information:
Jeff Olsen
The Chuck Olsen Company
+1 559 651 5900