US lemon production is starting up now in district 3 which includes Arizona and the California desert. The expectation is that this year’s tree crop in district 3 will be down from last year. “Estimates vary between a 15 and 20 percent drop,” says John Carter with Limoneira. “Quality however, looks to be better this year which will improve utilization.”
From district 3 production moves to district 1, California’s San Joaquin Valley. “This region looks to have a tree crop size similar to last year with good quality,” said Carter. Production of district 2, the coastal region of California, is a little far out to predict. The three regions together will supply lemons through next summer with peaks and valleys as production transitions from one region to another.
Global item
Lemons are truly a global product, from a sourcing as well as marketing perspective. “Demand globally for lemons continues to be on an upswing,” mentioned Carter. “The functional aspects of lemons, led by its health benefits, continue to drive consumption. The supply side on the other hand varies from market to market. The medium outlook on supplies from US districts looks to be in line with historical volumes. The wildcard across all of the growing areas of course will be Mother Nature relative to rainfall and winter conditions,” added Carter.
New product introductions
This past spring, Limoneira launched Lemon Misfits in an effort to sell a greater portion of the tree for fresh consumption and to provide a value alternative to retailers and foodservice customers. As the name suggests, Misfits are misshapen and can’t be sold as a premium grade. “Nevertheless, their juicing quality is excellent,” said Carter. In addition, the company launched a 1lb. seedless lemon bag that targets the customer who is looking for convenience and plate presentation. “The pouch bag serves in differentiating this specialty product from the other lemons in the store,” mentioned Carter. 
Meyer lemons available year-round
Limoneira continues to see development with its Pink Variegated Lemons. “They are always a high interest item and we expect demand to continue to increase as more awareness is built with traders and shoppers domestically and internationally.” Meyer Lemon demand also increases steadily each year. “They receive a lot of attention in cooking shows because of their recipe versatility,” said Carter. “Now that they are available year-round they will stay in the shopper’s mind which helps them keep their spot in the store merchandising set.”
For more information:
John Carter
Limoneira