Tunisian producers of Deglet Noor, the country's most popular date variety, are gearing up for the upcoming season, which starts in October and promises to be "exceptional", according to Abdelhamid Nasri, CEO of Afrimex.
Nasri says, "We had a bit of trouble with acarid attacks, but thanks to the rains in May and treatment with appropriate acaricides, we were able to save the palms and the fruit.
The grower continues: "We're looking forward to a record harvest, with an increase of around 40% on last year. The reason for this is quite unpredictable since it depends on the concordance of several parameters such as pollination, climate, winds, rainfall, and so on. We're delighted that all the conditions are right this year for optimum production".
In terms of varietal choice, there has been no change this year. "Deglet Noor, the flagship of Tunisian production, continues to hold first place with 95% of Tunisian exports."
The majority of export volumes are destined for European Union markets, where Tunisia benefits from its geographical proximity. "We can deliver anywhere in Europe in less than 5 days. We have a highly diversified clientele in Europe, from ethnic markets to supermarkets and wholesalers. Last season, for the first time, our sales in supermarkets exceeded our sales in ethnic markets, and we intend to capitalize on this fame of Deglet Noor among broad consumers."
Nasri concludes, "We also intend to target the processing and date-derived product sectors, as well as strengthen our position in markets such as the Middle East, West Africa, India, and Asian markets in general. More and more markets are discovering the Deglet Noor variety, and this variety knows how to captivate consumers with its unique gustatory and aesthetic aspects."
For more information:
Nasri Abdelhamid
Afrimex
Tel. : +216 96 615 510
Email: a.nasri@afrimex.net
www.afrimex.net