At the Rungis market, a small fruit still unknown to the French, the loquat, can be found among the last citrus fruit of the season. “This beautiful fruit that looks like a small pear really incarnates this image of the first fruit of spring. It always appears on the shelves at the beginning of April and precedes the other fruit of the season that don’t usually arrive until May. Its arrival marks the end of winter and coincides with the end of the clementine and orange season. This small Mediterranean fruit originally comes from Asia. Its skin is very thin and orange and its yellow flesh is very juicy, sweet and slightly acidic. It is a really refreshing fruit, pleasant to eat as the weather gets warmer,” explains Gérard Lliso, president of Select Agrumes.
Although largely unknown among the French, the loquat is very popular in other Mediterranean countries, such as Spain, Italy, Portugal, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. “The fruit is not well known in France and struggles with its image and reputation. However, each year, we note a growing interest for this small fruit among our French clients. The loquat seems to be experiencing a similar start as the kiwi gold, which also struggled to find its place on the French market. Let us hope it will find the same success! The loquat is a product that really deserves to be known, the feedback we receive is always positive.”
Since the beginning of April, Select Agrumes proposes loquat fruits from Spain, grown in the region of Alicante. “Alicante, especially around Callosa d'en Sarrià, has the best land to grow this fruit, cultivated in terraces on the mountains. Lately, it has also been grown in greenhouses so it can be on the market as early as the end of March. The first loquats of the season are sold at more than 6 euros [6.5 USD] per kilo. At the moment, prices vary between 4 and 6 euros [4.4 and 6.5 USD] per kilo, depending on the caliber (M, L and XL laid out in double rows, or XXL in trays of 3 kilos in single rows.”
The loquat from Select Agrumes will be found on the shelves until the end of May.
For more information:
Gérard Lliso
Select Agrumes
31 rue Avignon,
94 550 Rungis Complexe, France
Phone: +33 (0) 6 73 84 22 17
gerard@select-agrumes.com
www.select-agrumes.com