The citrus campaign is getting underway in Spain with the harvest of the first Satsuma mandarins, and high prices at the source will probably make for a challenging first part of the season.
"At the moment, the first Iwasaki mandarins of the season are undergoing the degreening process in the chambers. Those will start to be shipped at the beginning of next week (37), when we will also start harvesting Okitsu and Clausellina mandarins, which are also part of the Satsuma group," says Sergio Orobal, manager of Catman Fresh.
© Catman Fresh
"Although some people started harvesting in the last weeks of August, we prefer to wait for the fruit to be properly ripe and with a good Brix," says Orobal. "Some people are too hasty, trying to be the first to hit the market and obtain good prices, which results in them supplying substandard fruit that leaves clients unsatisfied and unwilling to repeat their purchases."
According to Sergio Orobal, the first Satsuma mandarins are delivered to various markets in Europe, including Spain, although as soon as clementines become available, most of the Satsuma shipments end up going just to the United Kingdom and Scandinavian countries. "The acreage devoted to this mandarin is decreasing every year, as there's not a lot of room for it in the markets," he says. On September 20, the company will launch the clementine marketing campaign. It will start with the Marisol and continue with the Oronules a few days later.
Purchases at the source have started earlier this year due to the fear of many companies of running out of produce, especially after the impact of hailstorms in July in the main Clemenules growing areas. As a consequence of this, purchase prices are also higher.
"I don't think the speculation currently going on in the buying and selling of fruit at the source makes much sense. There are growers setting unrealistic prices," says Sergio Orobal. "Although there will be a lower Clemenules supply because of the hail, you have to bear in mind that large quantities of Nadorcott and Tango mandarins are being shipped from South Africa and South America, and those will continue to arrive in Europe until the end of November and even early December."
"It is worth recalling that large retailers tend to prefer these varieties to early Spanish clementines because they have a longer shelf life. The same happens when Spain has Nadorcott, Tango, or Orri, among others, and other suppliers try to introduce early clementines. Looking at the prices being paid at the source for early varieties, I believe that the first part of the season, until the end of December, is going to be challenging for marketing, especially considering the rising costs of packaging, employment, and transport," says Orobal.
For more information:
Sergio Orobal
Catman Fresh
Camino de Iryda, s/n
03190 Pilar de la Horadada, Alicante. Spain
Tel.: +34 966 747 902
[email protected]
www.catmanfresh.com
