In the 2018 campaign which is now coming to an end, Grupo Eurobanan has distributed a million kilos of domestic limes under its tropical fruit brand Isla Bonita.
"The limes harvested this season have been characterized by their excellent quality and even better sizes, which is to thank to the abundant rainfall recorded this autumn. The mild temperatures have also helped give a boost to the fruit's sizes, hence the incredible development in terms of volume, which has gone from 400,000 kilos in the previous season to 1 million this year," says Ramón Rey, Director of Isla Bonita Tropical Fruit SA.
"With such a good campaign in terms of volume and quality, the Spanish supply consolidates as a complement to imported limes during the period from August to November." These months have usually been characterized by the lower availability of the product, since it is rainy season in the usual countries of origin," he says.
"Growing Tahiti limes in a Mediterranean climate isn't easy, because the fruit's color is strongly affected by the temperatures. The quality has been excellent this season, with Brix degrees oscillating between 7 and 9 and juice content exceeding 47% of the fruit's total weight," says the brand's representative.
The markets were apathetic during 2018; this, together with the low productivity achieved in temperate climates, has resulted in a not very profitable season. Also, the yield ranges between 20 and 25 tons per hectare, compared to the 50-60 tons obtained in tropical areas. "The high costs of harvesting, handling and packaging in Europe have been crucial in preventing the season from being greatly profitable," says Ramón Rey.
The director of Isla Bonita Tropical Fruit SA remains very optimistic ahead of upcoming campaigns, because "the fruit is harvested, transported, packaged and shipped to the market within 72 hours without any post-harvest treatments, which makes it ideal for vegan juices and consumption at European level."
More information:
Eurobanan
Tel. +34 917796649
comunicacion@eurobanan.com
www.eurobanan.com