With a smaller crop of organic Satsuma mandarins, demand is strong for the citrus item. "This is the third year that we've had a lower than normal crop–half of what we've had in the past and we're not sure why that is," says Rich Ferreira, a fourth-generation farmer with Side Hill Citrus in Lincoln, California. The grower is one of several Satsuma growers that ship through Earl's Organic Produce. "Consequently, since it's a light crop, the trees feel pretty vigorous and they're making the fruit big. The fruit is generally on the large size this year."
© Earl's Organic ProduceRich Ferreira (left) in the Earl's Organic Produce warehouse with Ethan Abendroth.
In Lincoln, the timing of the season is similar to historical timing with picking starting at the end of October on the 5,000 trees that the grower has. The season is expected to be done in the next three weeks. "We've picked all the way into early February before but that's not very common," says Ferreira.
This does follow fairly positive growing conditions this season, one with fewer high heat days over 100 degrees F–the kind seen in 2022. "Here, the quality of the fruit is because of the differential we have between the warm summer days and the cool nights unlike more even temperatures elsewhere in California," says Ferreira, adding that more recently, a lack of sun via shorter days is making softer fruit. The fruit is also staying moist longer due to atmospheric moisture from fog/mist which delays harvest given picking moist fruit damages the skin.
The uniqueness of a Satsuma
That said, the fruit that is shipping is seeing strong quality and that is helping fuel strong demand for organic Satsumas, which is a more unique item in the citrus category. "There are also clementines out there and those are a bit more clingy to the flesh and a completely different eating experience," says Ethan Abendroth of Earl's Organic Produce. "On Satsumas though, because we are accessing fruit from other regions too, each has a slightly different flavor complexion and slightly different physical appearance."
© Earl's Organic Produce
Following the Satsumas will be other zipper-skin citrus such as seedless Tangos. Those will begin shipping in the new year and likely go through until February.
So where is this leaving pricing? Steady demand is leading to steady pricing. "We've been able to find the price point in the marketplace that's comparable to last year," says Abendroth. "There's a rule of thumb where a 25 lb. box with organic zipper skin citrus will cost an average amount of $32-$40 FOB. Right now, fruit is trading between $34-$40 off the farm. We haven't seen any depreciation in price like we've seen with other commodities."
For more information:
Susan Simitz
Earl's Organic Produce
Tel: +1 (415) 824-7419
[email protected]
https://www.earlsorganic.com/
