Bolivian lemon producers have started finding their way to international markets in recent years. While they are still unable to compete in terms of volume with well-known exporters, such as Argentina and South Africa, they have the advantage of starting the harvest when the fruit in other countries still does not meet the characteristics required by the market. "Our harvest kicks off in February and lasts until June; it is advantageous to be able to harvest more than a month before Argentina. We can enter Europe competing with the last lemons from the northern hemisphere, and in years when the season is not very good for northern producers, we manage to export without competing directly between the months of February and April. This opens a very attractive potential window for us," affirms Christian Hamilton, spokesperson of Totaí Citrus.
Although Bolivia has a frost-free lemon producing region, where it can produce Italian lemons with a higher juice content, the harvest of this fruit is still quite small, to which we must add the logistical effort needed in order to reach the destination markets. These two factors have a significant impact when assessing the production and export possibilities, so many producers have not yet been convinced about investing in the fruit.
"Totaí Citrus, however, has taken this market opportunity seriously. It currently has an efficient lemon production system, with monitoring from seed (in the nurseries) to industrial products, complying with all regulations and legal requirements required. It is worth stressing that we are located in an area where lemons have not traditionally been cultivated. This choice was based on the weather and the area's isolation, which allow us to have a longer harvest period and effective pest management," continues Hamilton.
"This season started with good prospects for our lemons, as the impact of the El Niño phenomenon was positive for us. While the dry season was initially longer and the fruit stopped growing in size, the rains arrived in time and allowed us to hit the market with good calibres. Furthermore, our lemons are gaining a reputation for both a good Brix and a high juice content. If the weather and the market conditions remain favourable, this year we'll manage to double our production volume compared to the previous campaign," concludes the representative of Totaí Citrus.
For more information:
Christian Hamilton
Commercial Manager
Totaí Citrus
T: +591 33474676