Pardo leaf mandarin sales are not bad, but according to Erik-Jan Thur from Marni Fruit, there is little consistency this season. "It's sometimes hard to predict purchasing behavior. There's only sales continuity for the right sizes (60-82). Deviate from that, and marketing becomes far harder, especially with the smaller sizes. Although those are actually tastier, consumers still prefer the larger sizes," he says.
"Leaf clementines are priced at €12-€13 for the right sizes. More and more leafless Moroccan mandarins are entering the market and are taking over some of the demand. There's no mandarin excess in the market, but I have enough volume to keep going."
"We generally can't complain about citrus prices, but winter is also when things need to happen. Much depends on the weather. That was clear two weeks ago with the snow in Scandinavia. Many open markets closed, and the demand for mandarins immediately shifted to leafless mandarins in the supermarkets," Erik-Jan explains.
"The market is slightly quieter. We have a somewhat odd Christmas week ahead, with Monday and Tuesday off. So, everyone wants to keep their stock relatively small. You must also ensure you have fresh goods available on Wednesday. But that strategic planning is what makes our trade interesting. Sales should continue reasonably well in January. Then we'll receive other varieties like ClemenVilla, too."
"Oranges prices have dropped a little. They were between €17 and €18, but are now €15 to €16, which is still a good price. There are plenty of large sizes. Again, selling the smaller sizes is a little more difficult, but Egypt will probably quickly fill the market. You pay €16.50-€17 for the extra quality of Spanish lemons. However, if you accept slight peel damage, you can also get lemons for between €14 and €15. Everyone can work with that," Erik-Jan concludes.
For more information:
Erik-Jan Thur
Marni Fruit
52 Gebroken Meeldijk
2991 VD, Barendrecht, NL
Tel: +31 (0) 180 697 996
[email protected]
www.marnifruit.nl