As the tangerine season in Florida wraps up, remaining volumes have been tight. Additionally, erratic weather has caused some issues on an otherwise good-quality crop.
Darrell Genthner, of W.G. Roe and Sons, says that they've seen a tight market on Honey tangerines. The fresh market for Honey tangerines, also known as Murcotts, has been that way, he says, due to demand from juice processors.
“The market is tight,” he says, “and it looks to remain that way until about the third or fourth week in March.”
He also noted that several growers reported freeze damage, but the effects of the weather were spotty throughout the state.
“Some people had some freeze damage,” he says, “but what we saw were some of the best tangerines we've had in a while. Normal brix levels are around 12%, and we had fruit with brix levels of 14%.”
Rick Stauffer, of Seminole Produce Distributing, says they've noticed the effect of the weather on tangerines.
“There was a little bit of a freeze,” says Stauffer, “but what we noticed were the warm, dry temperatures throughout the season.”
The conditions, he says, have been good for fruit color and size.
“We typically see 100's and 120's,” he says, “but this year we saw 56's, 64's and even some 48's.”
He reported that prices, as of last week, were $14 for boxes of 120's and hovering around $18 for boxes of 64's and larger.
But the downside, notes Stauffer, was that some fruit didn't have as long a shelf-life.
“The color and quality were better than normal,” he says, “but then when we shipped them out, we heard they didn't hold.”