During the Spanish citrus campaign, several outstanding varieties are opening interesting market niches thanks to their color, shape and sensory qualities, thereby providing attractive and profitable opportunities for diversification, and a complement to the traditional supply. The Alicante-based family brand Quivia is specialized in these varieties, and after more than 100 years since its foundation, it is currently managed by the fourth generation of the Quirante family.
"At Quivia, we focus on the production of high-quality citrus fruits and exceptional varieties, including the Rosa lemon," says Vicente Quirante. "The Rosa lemon is a fruit of exceptional quality with a distinctive aroma, as well as pink flesh. This, in combination with its striated look, gives the variety the chance to escape current market price dynamics," he says. "From an agricultural standpoint, we can say that the fruits hold up well on the tree, and the trees deliver a good flowering. We've had some of these trees for more than ten years and their growth and productivity have remained stable and efficient."
"As for the demand, I could say that this is the biggest challenge for the variety. It is a product for very select niches and markets, although many brands and supermarket chains that are focused on the premium sector have contacted us asking about our product catalog after the Rosa lemon has caught their attention."
"We offer the best range of both conventional and organic lemons throughout the season: the Fino lemon from October to May, and the Verna lemon from April to August. However, the Rosa lemon is a product with a different kind of consumer, more targeted to high-end hospitality and cocktail bars."
"Another noteworthy product is our Sweet lime, which, for many, is the most aromatic product in our catalog. It is a lime with very special characteristics, with an extremely aromatic skin and a very sweet flavor. This confuses consumers, who are used to limes and lemons being sour. Just like the Rosa lemon, this product often goes to the hospitality and is used for cocktails or baking," says Vicente.
"The Leanri has managed to surprise consumers"
Without a doubt, Quivia stands for innovation, but also for commitment. "We are pioneers in the use of ozone in agriculture and of residue-free descaling systems. Moreover, we have over 580 solar panels that generate the energy we need. Today, we produce around 80% of the energy we need and by 2030 we want to reach 100%."
This investment in sustainability has gone hand in hand with the company's consolidation in the premium fruit segment, with the introduction of the Leanri and Dekopon mandarins. "The Leanri is a mandarin that has managed to surprise consumers. In our case, we have conducted several blind tastings, comparing it with its competitors, and in all of them, the Leanri was the preferred choice. On the outside, it stands out for a striking reddish color and a good size, with an average weight of 200 grams. It can be peeled in a quick, clean and easy way. On the inside, its seedless segments are full of juice and have a crunchy texture. The Leanri is the preferred choice for everyone, from the youngest to the most experienced adults. Our forecasts point to the Leanri mandarin production reaching about 2 million kilograms."
"As for the Dekopon mandarin, whose scientific name is Shiranui mandarin, it is one of our latest bets. It is a mandarin that's revolutionizing the US market, and it's currently sold in Spain by Quivia."
"This mandarin comes from Japan and is characterized by a very striking appearance, with a remarkable protuberance at the stem. It is also a large mandarin, with an average weight per piece of around 400 grams. It can be peeled extremely easily and cleanly. As for its flavor, we could say it is very mild, with a silky pulp, no seeds and a unique aroma. The Dekopon production is expected to rise; however, since it is a little-known product, its production will have to stabilize based on the demand."
"At Quivia, we will continue working to provide our customers the best quality and the best varieties throughout the citrus campaign. Our product catalog is on our website. We offer 24/48 hour shipments of our products, which are grown on our farms, picked directly from the tree and shipped the same day."
"For large retailers, we also have our stand at Mercalicante (stands 101-103), where we are delighted to offer not only our range of citrus fruits, but also a myriad of local products that stand out for their quality and flavor."
For more information:
Quivia
Plaza Miguel Hernández, 1
03181, Torrevieja, Alicante, Spain
Tel.: +34 672 092 261
quivia@quivia.es
https://quivia.es