Spain: Certified mandarins to overcome weather-related problems

"With less than 6 weeks before the end of the Clemcott season, the brand continues to thrive in the European markets," affirms its producer association. This quality-certified late mandarin is marketed from January to April.

In this 2016-2017 citrus season, calibres have been small for virtually all mandarin and clementine varieties; "however, the Clemcott campaign has been marked by stability, guaranteeing a sufficient supply of both the Extra Category and Category I."

According to the producers, "this is due to the enforcement of good agricultural practices, such as thinning, or the use of tree covering systems, which respectively ensure optimal calibres and prevent cross-pollination."

"Consumers increasingly demand higher quality foods, with a strong focus on their nutritious and healthy qualities," they point out.

Since 2011, the Club of Protected Vegetable Varieties has been carrying out promotional actions that have succeeded in positioning the Clemcott brand in the premium segment of the citrus market.

With the brand consolidated in Europe, the Club is working to ensure that the fruit supplied by its associates continues to be recognised and appreciated by the consumer, who for years has preferred this second season mandarin because of its extraordinary quality.

 

"The main reason for the reputation achieved by the Clemcott is its stability, as its excellent organoleptic qualities remain unchanged from January to April with every campaign," they affirm. "All Clemcott-certified farms implement the technical conditions necessary to obtain fruit of excellent quality."

At present, there are about 1,000 hectares with this certificate in the Spanish regions of Andalusia, Valencia and Murcia, as well as in southern Portugal. With the goal of increasing this acreage, the Club is working to promote the use of methods to facilitate the isolation of other pollinating citrus, such as the temporary covering with mesh, which yields excellent results.

"In campaigns such as the current one, in which unfortunate weather phenomena have caused significant damage to the fruit, the buyer, more than ever, needs a guarantee that the product purchased will fulfil his/her expectations, and this is only achieved after a certification process like the one the Clemcott goes through," they point out.