With the 2015/2016 citrus season already finished, the manager of the Agricultural Transformation Society (SAT) Sunaran, Antonio Carmona, stressed that, in terms of prices, the late varieties have reached between 45 and 50 cents per kilo at origin, with some sales from warehouse outlets for prices as high as 1 Euro per kilo. "It is true that prices have reached possibly record-high levels; I have never seen such prices in the 10 years I've been working in the sector," pointed out Carmona.
The manager explained that "the results have been very positive, especially for the producers, as we had previously suffered very bad years and a campaign of this kind is especially encouraging." Since the start of the season, prospects pointed to a marked fall in the production, which led to speculation affecting both sales at origin and the export markets. Prices have consequently stayed at higher levels than in previous years and the trend "has remained more or less stable throughout the campaign, although it is true that this increase has been even more pronounced for the latest varieties," he stated.
When it comes to the production, Carmona said that the campaign has concluded as expected. Producers had predicted a decline that has finally reached 20%. "Sunaran has recorded a 20% drop, which is about 10 million kilos less than in the previous season. We have fallen from 50 million to 40 million kilos," explained Carmona.
Looking ahead to the next citrus harvest, growers estimate that production will be somewhat higher. The flowering last spring was abundant and long, but the rains recorded in early May and the summer heat have affected the prospects somewhat. "In the end, it seems that we'll have a campaign with a little more production than the last, but in no case a campaign with oversupply," assures Carmona.
Source: eldiadecordoba.es
