The Spanish citrus season is starting with the harvest of early Iwasaki mandarins, with prices at origin of between 0.23 and 0.32 Euro per kilo, according to data released by the Lonja de Valencia, higher than the average of 0.18 Euro per kilo registered at the start of the 2014/2015 campaign.
"Although we have not yet started harvesting, sales are better than usual due to the fall in production and the higher prices," says a producer and marketer of the region of La Ribera del Xúquer, in Valencia.
The decline in the production of early mandarins and clementines is estimated at around 40% for the earliest varieties. This is mostly due to the impact of high spring and summer temperatures and hailstorms.
Moreover, he points out that "prices have also been boosted as a result of the smaller stocks of mandarins and clementines from the southern hemisphere this year. Argentina has shipped less to Europe and South Africa is also switching to other markets, such as the U.S., where they get better prices."
"Prospects at the start of the current campaign are really good," he continues. "Fruit quality is good and calibres are larger than last year. Furthermore, the current low temperatures in central and northern Europe, should boost demand."