Bumper market price for Katherine lemons despite rain

The Katherine lemon harvest is still expected to fetch as much as 25-30% more than in a normal year despite a couple of brief rain interruptions. The bumper market price, currently $80-100 per box for class I lemons, is thanks to the Australian dollar’s fall against the US dollar and solid demand following a worldwide lemon shortage. “Hardly anyone else is growing lemons in Australia at this time of the year, and with the US dollar strengthening it makes the US fruit expensive. There also seems to have been a worldwide shortage of lemons in the last 12 months,” notes Greg McMahon of grower Seven Fields.

Another reason that the harvest works despite some rainfall is that growers are able to use mango-picking aids. These allow them to pick without risk of the fruit developing the Oleo blemish. “It always rains this time of year, that’s just one of the challenges,” adds Mr McMahon. “We’ve not stopped generally because we’ve been able to use the mango picking aids.”

The lemon harvest began in Katherine on January 5, and is still ongoing, with very little disruption caused by rainfall. Lemons and other citrus fruit must usually be picked in dry weather.

For more information:
Greg McMahon
Seven Fields
Tel: +61(07) 3120 3322
Email: info@sevenfields.com.au