At WilkoFruit, the first Spanish Onix blood oranges are available this week. "We are the exclusive distributor of this new variety in the Netherlands, and I am very excited about it," says Wilko.
"What makes the Onix so unique is the combination of its incredible internal and external coloring with a fascinating flavor and delicate aroma, reminiscent of the traditional Sanguinelli variety. The color of the Onix oranges is magnificent—they are almost black, that's how dark they are," says Alejandro van der Zwaard. WilkoFruit will have Onix oranges available for about two months.
Additionally, the importer currently has a large supply of Moroccan Nadorcott mandarins. "The flavor is excellent, and sales are strong. Spain is nearly finished with Nadorcott, so prices, which are currently low, are expected to rise significantly. Now is the time to act," Alejandro notes.
WilkoFruit will carry Moroccan Nadorcott mandarins until the end of May, after which it will switch to supplies from Peru and South Africa. "We expect to be able to offer Nadorcott mandarins year-round within the next two years. It is already possible from Chile, but the cost is much higher, leaving a gap between the South African/Peruvian and Spanish seasons. However, by extending the seasons, we should soon achieve year-round availability. Additionally, from Spain, we continue to offer Cara Cara oranges and Kirkwood oranges in 10-kilogram packages."
Wilko Fruit's own brand: Gaudias, Fruits for Pleasure
Alejandro says the current market for oranges is also strong. "Right now, we are mainly selling Navel Late and Lane Late. Due to the temperature differences between day and night, the color is intense, and there has been sufficient rainfall. Initially, it was expected that the fruit size would be quite small, but this has turned out better than anticipated, and sales are going well. Lemon sales are also strong. The supply of Spanish grapefruit is beginning to decline, causing prices to rise," Wilko adds. WilkoFruit is also receiving red- and white-fleshed pomelos from China. "We will continue with these for a few more weeks," he says.
"Furthermore, we are currently at the peak of the Chilean stone fruit season. We specialize in this category and pack the fruit ourselves. With Garces and C&L, we have top-tier suppliers. In the early weeks of the season, most Chilean fruit was still heading to China, but now we are receiving good volumes here. This year, we have introduced a new variety, the Cherry Plum (Sweet Pixie), which has a 20% higher sugar content. We also carry this variety exclusively in the Dutch market. For Cherry Plums, we guarantee a minimum Brix level of 18+, as selected using a camera that measures sugar content."
"The cherries this season are quite large, and the favorable weather and reasonable prices are encouraging consumer demand, practically selling themselves. Additionally, we ended our South African stone fruit season early and started the Chilean season sooner. We already have plums and nectarines, and starting next week, we will receive Chilean peaches and paraguayos, ensuring a well-rounded fruit selection."
For more information:
Alejandro van der Zwaard
Wilko Fruit
Heilaar-Noordweg 14
4841 ZZ Prinsenbeek
[email protected]
www.wilkofruit.com