“Spanish citrus very constant in quality”

The availability of goods in the Spanish import market currently leaves much to be desired for some products. However, in the citrus sector, the current market situation is rather satisfactory, especially in terms of quality. If the oranges and clementines were mostly rotten and mouldy at the wholesalers in the last year, nowadays the total losses due to spoilage are very low. “The shelf life of the goods is very stable so far. It arrives beautifully and stays that way,” confirms Barbara Thuy-Pichl, Managing Director of the Fruit Häusler GmbH in Immenstadt.

The quality of the oranges is excellent, the prices and the availability of goods is almost the same as last year. Currently, the kilo prices at purchase vary between 1.00 and 1.50 euros and Spanish Navelinas still dominate events, at Häusler GmbH. Thuy-Pichl as well: "We especially like the 48-caliber juice oranges. Their prices are even rising slightly.”

Left: Mrs. Thuy-Pichl shows their fresh oranges from Spain.
Below, right: the third and fourth generation of this wholesale business

Trends
In addition to the oranges, the fruit marketer Häusler GmbH also sells clementines, at the moment the Clemenules variety. In this area too, the shelf life of the goods is significantly better than last year. This generally leads to stable sales: “Demand in the clementine sector is, in my view, very constant. Since the easy-to-peel varieties have expired, the sales fell back a little after Christmas. For the leaf clementines, the demand is rather low compared to the normal clementines.”

Over the years, demand in the citrus area has changed significantly, according to Mrs Thuy-Pichl. "We used to market many blood oranges as juice oranges, especially the Moro in 2 kg nets. Nowadays, hardly anyone wants them.” A similar development is noted by the wholesaler in the grapefruit business: in the past, there was still a great demand for white grapefruit. At the moment, almost only the rose-colored ones are being sold.

Convenience
Häusler GmbH has been in existence for more than 80 years and has mainly relied on the supply of canteen kitchens, canteens and other catering establishments in the Greater Allgäu/Lake Constance area. Third generation owner Mrs Thuy-Pichl leads the company, today together with her son Florian. Apart from tropical fruits, the product range also includes pome fruit, exotic fruits, regional vegetables, as well as mushrooms and herbs. There are also convenience products such as orange slices, sliced fruit and ready-to-eat salad and vegetable mixes.


For more information:
OBST HÄUSLER GmbH