This week, Vision Import Group, LLC of Hackensack, NJ will be receiving its first shipments of Argentinian lemons. Due to various trade restrictions, Argentina was absent from the US market for almost 17 years. “As a result, the return to the US is being welcomed with great anticipation,” says Ronnie Cohen with Vision Import Group. “As the domestic US market continues to deal with its own challenges such as weather, labor and urban sprawl, that continues to encroach on farmland and has a higher value than the producing value, Argentina will fulfil a welcomed need for the US market.”
$250,000 investment in packing house
Argentina is the world’s largest lemon producing country, known for its superb quality and sought-after lemon fruit. “We are proud to be partnering with Citromax Group and feel privileged to be marketing the proprietary Citromax ‘Green Label’, which is their premium brand,” shared Cohen. Citromax is the third-largest processor in the world, with more than 13,000 acres of lemon orchards in Tucuman, Argentina and recently invested USD250,000 into their packing house and groves, which brings them into full compliance with the rigorous standards set by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
New Jersey cold storage
“Our strategic alliance with Citromax places us with the ability to provide high quality fruit and with the highest standards that are unrivalled,” Cohen mentioned. “The ability to place Argentinian fruit on the East Coast will allow us to deliver exceptional lemons from Argentina to the ultimate consumers.” The first port of entry will be the Northeast and Vision will distribute through its cold storage facility in New Jersey. “Because the first year we will have only a moderate program, we will more than likely sell closer to our distribution point,” said Cohen. “In the future, I know there will be more options to ports of entry.”
Ronnie Cohen in a lemon grove in Tucuman, Argentina
Argentina starts off cautious
Adding Argentina to its import programs, completes year-round lemon availability for Vision. Argentine lemons are available for six to eight weeks out of the year, beginning in April through the middle of June. “The exact window of availability can change due to maturity of the fruit earmarked for the US,” said Cohen. This year, availability is limited due to current APHIS protocol restrictions. “I know Argentina will be very cautious this first year to make sure all fruit will be received perfect and will keep overall volumes to a minimum as they look to the long term. The significance will not be realized this season, but I predict they will become an important and integral supplier to the US market in the near future.” Argentina complements Vision’s Mexican and Spanish campaigns that cover the rest of the year.
Lemons now add another commodity with year-round availability to the company’s current range of year-round commodities that include limes, mangoes, pineapples and plantains.
For more information:
Ronnie Cohen
Vision Import Group
Tel: (+1) 201-968-1190