The harvest of early Iwasaki and Okitsu mandarins has started in the region of Safor, Valencia. The yields per hectare are higher, there are also more smaller sizes, which are difficult to market, especially for companies that pack the fruit with leaves.
"Despite there being more production this year, I will have 30% less fruit with commercial caliber available than in the last season for the packaging of mandarins and clementines with leaves," said producer and marketer Jose Manuel Pardo."Traditional markets where we sell mandarins and clementines with leaves demand large sizes," he added.
According to Jose Manuel Pardo, there is a lack of caliber in practically all of the mandarin and clementine varieties, even in oranges, especially in Navelines. Despite the thinnings, the trees are more loaded with fruit compared to last year.
The abundant presence of mandarins from the southern hemisphere in the market is having a negative effect on sales of early Spanish mandarins. The Scandinavian markets absorb the most mandarins with Satsuma leaves.
"Year after year there is an increase in the availability of good mandarin varieties, such as the Nadorcott, from the southern hemisphere in Europe. This is reducing our export window for the extra-early varieties. A few years ago we could obtain interesting prices for early varieties, but sales have suffered a lot in recent seasons and it almost doesn't make sense to start the mandarin campaign in Valencia before mid-October."
The Valencian company has expanded its facilities by 3,000 square meters more to reach 8,000 m2. Jose Manuel Pardo specializes in the marketing of clementines and mandarins with leaves. He exports 90% of his production to Europe, and his main destination markets are England, the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy. He also exports to some markets in the Middle East.
Contact Information:
José Manuel Pardo
T: +34 962 895 307
M: +34 609612084
josemanuelpardo@yahoo.es
www.josemanuelpardo.es