Spain, and more specifically the Region of Valencia, is well known for being a major citrus exporter at global level, especially if we are talking about oranges, mandarins, lemons and grapefruits. But what about limes? Could Spain also become an important supplier of limes for Europe in the future at certain times of the campaign? FreshPlaza visited the packing plant of Exportaciones Aranda, in Piles, Valencia, better known for its brand FILÓSOFO, where the work in the new Spanish mandarin campaign is already in full swing, and which has just successfully finished its third Spanish lime campaign.
From right to left: Salvador Aranda, Laura Aranda, Pedro Aranda and Dutch importer Willem Dijk.
"We have been working with limes for three campaigns in a row and we are very excited about this product. Even though it does not represent the bulk of our business, as is the case of oranges and mandarins, it is finding a special place in our product catalog," explains Salvador Aranda, managing director of Exportaciones Aranda.
The limes handled by this Valencian company come from the plantations of an associated producer in the Vera Alta, in Almeria, and they find their place in the market in Europe between July and October.
"It is a product that makes it possible for our central packing plant to remain operative during the summer months, playing a similar role to that of the citrus fruits from the southern hemisphere when the Spanish campaign ends. Spanish limes have great organoleptic qualities, standing out for their aroma, and they have more juice than the limes of Brazil and Mexico. They are also characterized by their freshness, since the product is delivered to our customers between 24 and 48 hours after being harvested. The proximity to European markets is one of our best competitive advantages. The supply is still quite limited, but the fruit is highly appreciated by the European markets."
Spanish limes also stand out for their healthy properties. "Taking into account that it is a fruit that is widely used in the preparation of cocktails and in the catering sector, where even the peel is used, we supply a product that isn't subject to post-harvest fungicide chemical treatments, unlike that from the southern hemisphere," he says.
Producing limes in Spain is more difficult than in other tropical countries due to the climate, since the nights are cooler and this causes the green color to turn yellow more easily. According to Salvador Aranda, one of the main requirements for a lime to be considered good in the market is for it to have a uniform green color.
The Valencian company ships its limes both to wholesale markets and to supermarket chains in Europe, as well as to juice manufacturers. They pack them in 4 kg cardboard boxes with 42/48/54 pieces of fruit and in girsac of 300 to 500 grams. "Since the first limes of the season are usually very small, we also sell those in smaller formats (300 g) with 6 fruits for their use in cocktails."
Willem Dijk, Dutch importer and distributor of Filósofo products in the Benelux and Germany.
Filósofo markets about 80 million kilos of citrus fruit a year, mainly oranges and mandarins. 90% of these are intended for European markets. Russia used to be an important destination before the commercial veto was implemented, but the company has compensated for its loss by finding new markets further afield, such as Canada, the United States, Dubai, China, Hong Kong, etc.
"The great challenge for the sector will be to maintain the quality of its citrus fruits, taking into account that prices are becoming increasingly restrictive and that competition with other origins is getting tougher. In this context, the search for new, better varieties and the application of a royalties system could be key to remain competitive, both in terms of prices and quality, while ensuring that everyone in the sector can make a profit," says Salvador Aranda.
For more information:
Laura Aranda Verdú
FILÓSOFO (Exportaciones Aranda)
Carretera Nazaret- Oliva, 2
46712 Piles (Valencia). Spain
T+34 962832500
laura@filosofo.es
www.filosofo.es