With plenty of clementines coming into the United States from Peru and Chile, prices have been soft. In addition to competition from summer fruit, imported citrus prices have been kept down by the number of importers bringing fruit into the U.S. market.“Our clementines are coming from both Chile and Peru,” said Rick Hudson, sales manager with AMC Fazio in Fresno, California. “We will be bringing in Tango and W Murcotts from Peru shortly.” Both Chile and Peru started shipping clementines to the U.S. in May, and it's likely fruit will continue to come in through September.
Pricing has suffered due to the amount of fruit available. Hudson says he saw prices as high as $36.00 for a carton of 10 three-pound bags a month ago, and now that carton is selling for as low as $26.00. On July 21, prices for a carton of size 20 clementines in three-pound bags from Chile and Peru were between $26.00 and $30.00 at Los Angeles ports of entry, and prices for a carton of size 40 fruit were between $20.00 and $26.00.
“Prices have been on the soft side because of a couple of things,” said Hudson. “For whatever reason, demand is off, and there are also more importers that are bringing in more fruit.” Aside from that, it's been a pretty standard import season.
“Sizing is average, between 28 and 32, and that's pretty normal,” said Hudson, “and quality has been very good. The clementines being brought in eat very well.”
For more information:
Rick Hudson
AMC Fazio
+1 559 486 3030