One fine day Van Walderveen started with a citrus testing field in Morocco, and now the wholesaler is importing a large volume of Moroccan citrus each year, working together with the Copag cooperative, like it does with vegetables. The first Valencia Lates arrived again last week. Van Walderveen expects to continue with them until late July. "The quality and brix is great," Bas van Walderveen says.
"Morocco has a normal harvest this year with good sizes, 60-70 depending on sorting," the importer goes on to say. He says demand for the Moroccan citrus is good, with around 9 Euro being paid for it at the moment. "We get supplies every week, and sufficient produce will be available in the coming weeks. So a price hike isn't to be expected immediately."
Van Walderveen gets shipments multiple times a week, offering the citrus under the Holmar and Faras brands. Competition traditionally comes mainly from the Egyptian citrus. "The Moroccan citrus is sweeter, heavier when it comes to weight, and looks better, but Egypt is traditionally 1.50/2 Euro per crate cheaper," Bas compares.
For more information:
Bas van Walderveen
Van Walderveen
Laagraven 17-19
3439 LG Nieuwegein
Tel.: +31(0)30 284 80 40 / +31(0)30 2848058
Fax: +31(0)30 289 92 14 or +31(0)30 280 57 38
Mob: +31(0)6 23456843
www.walderveen.nl