At the beginning of this month, the first Satsuma Iwasaki will start to be harvested and marketed in Valencia. This will mark the start of the 2022-2023 citrus season, for which, just like in the case of kakis, a lower production is expected compared to last season.
"If everything goes according to plan, on September 10 we will have the first Iwasaki of the season, grown in Xeraco, in Valencia; the best production area when it comes to quality, Brix and skin color, according to our criteria," says Miguel Agustín, commercial director of Nostra Fruita and La Nostra Valencia.
Then we will continue with the Okitsu, Clausellina, Clemenrubi, Oronules, Arrufatina, Mioro, Clemenules, Clemenvilla, Nadorcott, Leanri, Orri and Ortanique. As for oranges, we will start with the Navelina in October and continue with the Navel Late, Lane Late, Navel Powell, Barberina and Midknight, and finish with Valencia Late."
In the 2021-2022 season, the Valencian group has exceeded 50 million kilos marketed for the first time in its history. Both companies have thus consolidated their growth, with close to a 20% increase in sales over the last three seasons. Out of this volume, 91% corresponds to citrus fruits, 7% to Rojo Brillante kakis and the rest to other fruits, with Elche pomegranates standing out.
La Nostra Fruita and La Nostra Valencia supply supermarket chains, market wholesalers and distribution warehouses, companies in the hospitality and other specialized companies in the sector across the country. "We have more than 30 years of experience. There are more than fifty companies in our portfolio of suppliers, including most of the main citrus marketing companies in the Region of Valencia, as well as some outstanding Andalusian companies," said its commercial director.
"We are present in every wholesale market in the country, and for the last 4 seasons, we have been exporting a bit to countries such as France, Belgium or Italy, through a marketing company with which we collaborate."
"The first harvest estimate for oranges, mandarins and clementines points to a reduction of around 10% in the volume compared to the 2021/2022 campaign. But it remains to be seen how the situation will evolve throughout the campaign and how much of an impact the weather will have. In any case, we don't see this as a cause for concern, as last year there was a feeling of oversupply in the market and downward pressure on selling prices. If this year there is a lower supply of citrus fruits, prices should be better for everyone," said Miguel Agustín.
"For now, it is mostly noticeable in the case of oranges of the Navel group, and in that of clementines like the Clemenules. We will have to wait and see how the southern hemisphere campaign connects with ours; something that especially affects the mandarin and clementine group. If the Nadorcott, Tango and Orri from overseas reach high prices and no production failures are reported, they will take a lot of sales away from our first mandarins and clementines, at least until the harvest of the Clemenules," he said.
That is why, for now, the commercial director of this Valencian group says that "the sector is still working 'with the handbrake on'. There are only few ongoing purchase and sales operations. Last year, purchases were made at very high prices, but then the prices paid in the market were very different. The key is to find out whether there are indeed smaller volumes coming through overseas programs and high prices being paid, or if everything will arrive at once, as was the case last year, causing a lot of damage to oranges," he said.
Regarding the sizes, the drought is again expected to have an impact on them. Sizes will mostly be small, especially in the first part of the campaign, not only in the case of oranges, but also for those of mandarins and clementines," said Miguel Agustín.
For more information:
Miguel Agustín
Nostra Fruita SL
M: +34 615 22 57 31
comercial@lanostravalencia.com