Despite a lower clementine production at a national level, for one specific exporter, the supply is very close to what it was in the previous season, says Chrysikos Memos, general manager for Greek fruit exporter Memos Fruits: "This season presents an interesting picture. Nationally, estimates suggest a significant reduction in production, primarily due to climatic conditions during fruit setting. However, at Memos fruits, we managed to maintain a relatively stable volume, with only a slight, manageable decrease. The most critical element is the quality of our fruit. The earlier start of the season, combined with high Brix levels and ideal sizing, has given us a premium product that stands out in the market."
"Our main export markets remain the countries of Central and Northern Europe, such as Germany, the Netherlands, and the Scandinavian countries, where we have established strong ties of trust. Our strategy this year is twofold: By strengthening our position in existing markets by supplying the superior quality that consumers demand," Memos explains. "Simultaneously, we're strategically evaluating further penetration into the Eastern European market, which shows increasing demand for quality Greek citrus, as well as exploring opportunities outside the EU, provided logistics allow for it."
© Memos Fruits
According to Memos, the challenging situations in competing countries have resulted in more orders for Greek clementines: "Demand is exceptionally strong and developing positively for Memos fruits. This is primarily due to two factors. There are reports of significant quality issues with Clementines from competing countries like Spain and Turkey. Greek Clementines, and especially those we manage, are filling this gap, offering consistent quality and good flavor. Additionally, the earlier harvest allowed us to enter the market sooner, capitalizing on the initial strong demand. This demand remains consistently high, particularly for the medium and larger sizes, and we anticipate this momentum will be maintained until the festive peak season."
Memons emphasizes that the costs of operations have also increased in Greece, just like in other European countries. "The challenges have been primarily operational and administrative. The increased cost of energy, packaging materials, and, crucially, securing sufficient and specialized personnel for harvesting remain major issues. The implementation of new digital requirements, such as the digital shipping document in the field, requires extra administrative organization as well. We countered these challenges by intensively investing in quality and traceability, which justifies the higher market price for the end product. Simultaneously, through timely harvest planning and close cooperation with our growers, we ensured a smooth product flow, minimizing delays."
Although price levels for clementines are not optimal, managing costs means the operation is still profitable, Memos states: "This year, prices have shown a varied development, depending on the variety and harvest period. While we saw satisfactory price levels for the early varieties, the farm gate price for the main volume of production settled around €0.50/kg. This price level, while under pressure due to the general increase in operating costs (energy, labor), remains manageable for us at Memos Fruits. Our strategy is to counteract this pressure through optimizing packaging and logistics costs. Ensuring that the final selling price remains at a high level, as the market recognizes the superior quality and stability of Greek clementines, especially against the problematic competition," he concludes.
For more information:
Chrysikos Memos
Memos Fruits
Tel: +30 6945 388 288
[email protected]
www.memosfruits.com
