Cheaper Mandarin oranges for Chinese New Year

Mandarin oranges (lokam) for Chinese New Year will be cheaper by 10% to 15% because of increase in the harvest. Sunshine Square general manager Yee Kam Ming said there was an increase of between 20% and 30% in the harvest of mandarin oranges due to the improved weather in China. He said customers could also look forward to tastier oranges because of the better harvest. “Our first container of oranges has already arrived ahead of the Chinese New Year celebrations next month,” he said.

Yee said a carton of oranges weighing 4kg is priced at RM10.90 (small), RM12.90 (medium) and RM13.90 (large). “This is much cheaper compared to the previous year when the prices were about 10%-15% higher,” said Yee. He said however the Teochew mandarins would be more costly than the lokam oranges as the production is lower. “As such, the prices for the Teochew mandarins have gone up by 15%,” said Yee, adding that these oranges are in high demand in China.

He said the Shatang oranges also recorded better yield than last year. “They are generally sweeter this time around because of good rainfall and weather. “Prices of the Shatang oranges are also lower this time but they are not as cheap as the Lokam oranges because they are more difficult to grow and there is high demand back in China,” Yee said.

Source: thestar.com.my