California's Valencia orange season is wrapping up early. "We're hearing that multiple people in the industry are starting to finish their harvest which we think there will be more of over the next few weeks," says Jesse Silva of Kings River Packing, a family-owned and operated eight-generation grower-packer-shipper. "We're pacing ourselves."
Along with California fruit, the company is also bringing in Chilean imports for navel oranges for its juice, foodservice and retail contracts. Chilean orange imports begin in the first or second week of July and through until the end of October.
As for demand, it's been good overall. "It's been an interesting import season because of tariffs. They've impacted marketing prices and supply of fruit on the East Coast," says Silva, adding that Chilean product has been impacted by the U.S. tariffs. At the same time, the window on South African citrus arrivals earlier this summer was shorter given shippers were sending fruit ahead of the tariffs being imposed.
© Kings River Packing
Prices picking up
As for pricing right now, it is strengthening. "Prices that were in the high teens to mid-$20s are now approaching the $30 range," says Silva, adding that Kings River Packing largely has programmed business. "Some years it goes as high as $40. Whether or not that gets there or not, I don't know."
Looking ahead, there's optimism that the California navel orange season will start in October as Chilean imports begin to wind down. "We're expecting a really good quality crop," says Silva.
Many years, the crop starts with higher volumes of Fancy-grade fruit and sizing is average to smaller sometimes on that early fruit, which is often destined for foodservice contracts. "We have a little bit lighter sets overall in California, so the fruit will be larger. We also do have a bit of thrip damage throughout the industry. Those who weren't spraying for thrip could see a bit more impact from that," Silva says, adding in turn that will leave more Choice-grade fruit. This follows the 2024-2025 orange crop which was a heavy year for Fancy-grade fruit with little Choice-grade fruit.
For more information:
Jesse Silva
Kings River Packing
Tel: +1 (559) 574-1285
https://kingorange.com/
