In just seven days, the first mandarins of the season, of the Okitsu early variety, will be harvested.
The rainy Spring and a colder than usual month of June have delayed the harvest and have affected the fruit's settling, which will result in slightly smaller calibres. Despite this, "quality will be as good as last year," affirms Jose Peiró, Exports Director of Frutas Escrig (Exforpe SL), "and it seems that our production volumes will also be similar."
Based in the Valencian town of Faura, Exforpe S.L., better known by its brand, Escrig Gourmet, is specialised in the production and sales of all varieties of mandarins, clementines and oranges, as well as melons and watermelons during the summer, moving between 30 and 32 million kilos of fruit per year.
"We only seek to produce fruit with a thin peel and the highest possible content of juice to attend the demands of a select market that requires high-end products," explains José Peiró.
The Valencian company produces 25% of its citrus and the rest comes from associated producers and deals with third parties, shipping it both to the domestic and EU markets, especially France. When out of season, Exforpe imports oranges from South Africa through a specialised supplier, and this year it will also start selling mandarins of the Orri variety, from Israel; a product being increasingly more demanded. This allows them to supply citrus all year round.
Ban on South African imports is not a solution
Regarding the requests for the banning of South African imports issued by the Spanish citrus sector, denouncing the phytosanitary threat from their oranges, in reference to the "Black Spot" disease, José Peiró believes that it would not be a coherent solution within our current free global market.
The banning of imports obviously stops pests from spreading, but banning is not a solution, only a patch-up. On the one hand, competition for prices does not pose a real threat on the Spanish citrus sector because the products have different productive periods. On the other hand, Spanish citrus exports to South Africa could be deeply affected, and while they are not large volumes, there is a market for them."
"It may be difficult, but ideally we should try to compromise. The "Black Spot" could indeed be dangerous to Spanish plantations, which is why, if necessary, the European Commission could insist on the application of stricter quality controls, as well as send EU inspectors to the lands of origin, just like they do with us, making use of import and export protocols."
First experience at Fruit Attraction
This will be the first year that the brand ESCRIG GOURMET will have its own stand at the successful Fruit Attraction fair, in Madrid, to take place between 16 and 18 October, and where the company will also promote its other brands, MARIA JOSÉ or HERMANOS ESCRIG y SOFIA.
"We consider it necessary to be there due to the importance that the event is gaining both in Spain and overseas. Our first impressions will determine whether we continue visiting it in the coming years."
