Georgian citrus harvest to reach 45,000 tonnes

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said this year’s citrus harvest was expected to hit about 45,000 tonnes, adding the Government would subsidise collection of…

Pakistani mandarins on the market led to a collapse in prices in Central Asian market

Mandarins from Pakistan were late to arrive on the Central Asian market this year, normally they would arrive at the end of October, but this year it was the end of November.…

Russian market harder to access for Egyptian citrus exporters

The world's largest citrus exporter, Egypt, has seen a large increase in volumes this season. According to Mr. Eslam Gelila, CEO of the Egyptian exporter Gelila, this increase reached 20% more than last year, and about a total of six million tons of citrus are ready for export. However, a part of this…

Citrus disease is also affecting Brazil's orange crop

Florida will produce the smallest crop of oranges in more than 75 years. The tree-killing disease that decimated Florida orange groves is also intensifying across Brazil, the…

Limoneira closes sale of its Sevilla property for $2.6 million

The Limoneira Company, a diversified citrus growing, packing, selling and marketing company with related agribusiness activities and real estate development operations, today…

India's Bengal orange production sees 30% drop, shortages on market

The production of the so called Darjeeling oranges dropped by 30% causing shortages on the local market. The drop is due to a lack in organic fertilisers that farmers say does…

Afghanistan's Batikot to produce 2,100 tons of tangerines

Producers in the Batikot district in Afghanistan are expected to produce 2,100 tons of tangerines. This is a higher yield due to efforts to increase production.  The Canal Department…

Esperidio acquires new sustainable standards

The process to assess sustainability in the companies part of the Esperidio consortium ended successfully. The project started in 2020 and represents a further step concerning topics such as corporate responsibility and environmental and economic sustainability. In the photo, Lino Catena, legal…

Tarocco blood orange campaign about to start

"We started the citrus fruit campaign with the Navelina variety, though with a delay of a few weeks and a 20% drop in volumes compared with the previous year. Commercialization will liven up in early December with Tarocco blood oranges, though there will be difficulties linked with the drop in…

Indian tariff cuts a boost for Australian citrus

Tariffs to India for citrus will be cut in half later this month following the finalisation of the Australia India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA). Both the…

South Africa is set for record citrus exports of 2.7 million tons in marketing year 2021/22

The area under citrus cultivation in South Africa has grown steadily over the past decade, driven by ongoing investments on relatively high earnings from export markets. As a result, South Africa is set for record citrus exports of 2.7 million tons in marketing year 2021/22. However, the expansion in…

Unraveling the relationship between the HLB bacterium and trees

At the heart of the HLB threatening the Florida citrus industry is a complex exchange between the citrus tree and an insidious bacterium. (UF/IFAS) researchers continue to…

“We are expecting 40% of our normal volumes of Rocha pears”

Apifood is about to finish its grape campaign, and the company is now starting the Rocha pear and citrus fruit season. “This year, we will finish the campaign in March because we have approximately 40% of a normal harvest. Due to the lack of volumes, the Rocha pear is sold at relatively high prices in…

A new fresh produce export line is launched in Beni Mellal, Morocco

Beni Mellal Citrus, a Moroccan exporter based in the region of the same name, has announced its plans to double shipping volumes this season. The company exports mainly Clementine, Nour, Nadorcott, Navel, Navel Late, and Maroc Late varieties, in addition to other products such as watermelons, grenadine,…

Tucuman citrus area decreased by almost 7.5% in the 2022 campaign

INTA's EEA Famaillá's Laboratory of Territorial Information Systems carried out the survey of the surface implanted with citrus in the province of Tucuman in the 2022…

South African citrus industry moves to mitigate new and old risks

Despite achieving a marginal increase in export volumes for the 2022 season, compared with that of 2021, South Africa’s citrus industry has faced a myriad of challenges during…

"Italian companies pay really well for quality Spanish clementine"

According to the most recent data shared by FAO, in 2020, Spain produced more than 52% of the oranges produced in Europe and almost 69% of the continent's easy peelers, making it Europe's main citrus-producing country. It was followed by Italy, which accounts for nearly 28% of the oranges and 20.1% of…

"Plenty of Peruvian limes in the coming weeks"

Silvia Piezzi is no stranger to many in the Dutch fruit trade sector. This Argentine entrepreneur was with Cesil Import & Export, in the Netherlands, for many years. More recently, she has been active mainly from Argentina, exporting Latin American fruit. "We're currently exporting Peruvian limes," says Silvia.…

Tunisian citrus production expected to go down 16%

According to its National Observatory of Agriculture (ONAGRI), Tunisian citrus production in the 2022/2023 season is expected to drop by 16% to 290,000 tons, from 345,300 tons…

Record temperatures cause an unexpected fruit fly outbreak in kakis and citrus

The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) has become a serious problem in this season's kaki and citrus crops after Spain experienced its hottest October on record and…

Growers export GI-tagged Khasi Mandarin organic oranges to Dubai

Yesterday, a trial export shipment of GI-tagged Khasi Mandarin orange from Meghalaya went out to Dubai. The project is a part of its initiatives to promote exports of…

Research to help US organic growers fight HLB

A grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) is intended to advance research to help organic citrus producers…

Northern Hemisphere Citrus Forecast shows significant drop in citrus production

The World Citrus Organisation (WCO) has released its annual Northern Hemisphere Citrus Forecast for the upcoming citrus season (2022-23). The Forecast, which was presented during the third edition of the Global Citrus Congress on 30 November 2022 online, is based on data from Egypt, Greece, Israel,…

Castellon's Clemenules campaign will end in mid-December

According to forecasts, this year's Clemenules campaign, which should end in mid-January, will be shorter than usual and stocks could run out between December 15 and 20. "It…

Egyptian citrus exporters lower prices by 5%

Taking advantage of the devaluation of the Egyptian pound, some Egyptian citrus exporters have offered lower prices compared to the previous season, the decrease is up to 5%. This is the case of the exporter Alwessam for agricultural crops, whose export programs begin on December 1st. The company exports…

Egyptian citrus exporters seek new markets

The Egyptian exporter 3A for Agricultural and Animal Production enters the citrus market this season with volumes of 100,000 tons of different varieties: Abo Sorra oranges, Navel oranges, Murcott, Fremont, and Tango. Mr. Eslam Taha, head of quality assurance of the company, ensures that Egyptian production…

Limoneira announces new vice president of field operations

Limoneira Company announces the appointment of Stewart Lockwood to the position of vice president of field operations. In this position, Lockwood is responsible for the harvesting and grower services departments and interacts closely with the packing, sales and food safety departments to drive annual…

Nepal: Syangja growers witness increased orange production

Orange production has increased in Syangja this year. The district produced 22,500 tons of oranges this year. Chief of the AKC Syangja, Binod Hamal said the district produced…

Consum will only sell oranges and mandarins with Cítricos Valencianos PGI November to the end of April

Consum, the Spanish cooperative in the distribution sector, will only sell oranges and mandarins that have the Citricos Valencianos Protected Geographical Identification (PGI)…

"Excellent citrus sales, hardly any large oranges in Spain"

According to Wilko van der Zwaard of the Dutch company Wilko Fruit, citrus sales are currently good to excellent. "There's good market demand with correct prices being paid. Especially concerning top premium-branded fruit, including our renowned Gaudias label," he says. Citrus is one of Wilko Fruit's leading…

Portuguese origin is gaining ground

For Greype France, the campaign of Portuguese citrus fruit started in October. The company has been working with this origin for 6 years, starting with the Rocha pear and now citrus, including oranges, lemons and clementines, which all benefit from the PGI Citrinos do Algarve certification. “We started…

"The overall price of Jinqiu Tangerines is slightly higher than in previous years"

The Jinqiu Tangerine is a new variety of early-ripening citrus in China. Due to its early launch and comprehensive properties, the market price is ideal. It has been promoted nationwide for less than ten years, and its production areas are widely distributed and so have different characteristics. In…

"Grapes and clementines are always in high demand around year's end"

As the festive season approaches, business at Bouvry, in Belgium, usually slows down a bit. "That's no different this year," begins Christoph Bouvry. "But as the holidays draw nearer, it picks up. Grapes and clementines are always in demand around the end of the year. Sales of winter vegetables like…

UK suspends tariffs on fruit juices

Brazilian orange juice shipments to the UK should benefit from the recent decision by the British government to suspend tariffs on concentrated and ready-to-drink juice…

Lindner GmbH

"Good volume availability for lemons and clementines, plump oranges in short supply"

The Spanish citrus campaign is slowly but surely approaching its peak. "Spanish lemons of the commercial Primofiori variety are now available in all sizes, of good quality. For clementines, the changeover to the Clemenules variety took place three weeks ago. Since then, we have observed sufficient…

"The demand for quality clementines is very high and prices are good"

The clementine campaign is currently underway with the Clemenules variety, which has arrived with notably lower volumes and a significant price difference between the good quality lots and those of more standard quality. The fruit ripening has happened earlier than usual and late rains could take a toll…

Israel’s 2022-2023 citrus season estimated to be lower and challenging

The 2022-2023 citrus harvest currently underway in Israel is expected to be lower as logistics issues are also hampering business and will contribute to another “challenging year”. According to Yonatan Meron, Export Manager of Granot Fresh: “Although we had a slight reduction in the logistic costs to…

Willem Koole, Frukar: "Spanish mandarins doing well on empty market"

"Spanish mandarins came onto a good market. It was empty, with those from South Africa being as good as gone," says Willem Koole, Frukar's commercial director, about the start…

Ghanaian citrus growers perturbed by black spot disease

The Ghanaian Orange Growers Association (OGA) was instituted a few years ago with the sole objective of assisting farmers with technical knowledge and up-to-date farming…

Castellon's citrus exports are growing thanks to the fall in production in Italy

According to the latest data from the Territorial Directorate of Commerce in the Valencian Community, the province of Castellon's citrus exports from January to September…

France: green clementines for the holiday season

Originally known for its grape production, the Peruzzo group regularly seeks innovations to expand its range with new original fruit and vegetables. After the Rossy red kiwi, the Calabrian clementine, the Bo&Bon melon, the Lucas Oro Italia grapes and the Chocolate & Vanilla oranges, Peruzzo is now…

DaVida, the new BIO+ and CO2 neutral brand of citrus fruit to give the organic market a push

Organic citrus fruit with a positive impact, grown on preserved land in western Andalusia. This is the commitment of DaVida, the new brand developed by Arco Fruits for the French organic market. The goal is to make this brand the reference of a new organic agriculture. But DaVida also wants to become an…

First supplies of Limoré to become available soon

Temperatures are starting to drop in the Rocca Imperiale valleys. This has accelerated the veraison of the famous PGI lemons, thus enabling a quicker and more homogeneous coloring of the fruits. "We think we will be able to start harvesting around December 10th, one week earlier than in the previous campaigns.…

UK South West Regional Organised Crime Unit

South African orange shipment reveals R75 million worth of cocaine

UK police officials say they found 49 kgs of cocaine concealed in a shipment of oranges from South Africa. The cocaine would have been worth R75 million (€4.2 mln). An image released by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, an umbrella organisation that combines the efforts of several English…

Louisiana scientists work to grow citrus indoors

The number of commercial citrus growers is still decreasing in south Louisiana, with saltwater intrusion making citrus cultivation all but impossible in some areas. For…

"Production is rather large when it comes to Valencia oranges"

According to Egyptian fresh produce exporter Pyramids Agricultural Investment Co.’s business development manager Abdulla Tharwat, the Egyptian citrus export season is just around the corner: “The first of December will be the first day of exporting citrus in Egypt, according to the Plant Quarantine of…

Citrosuco launches unit for natural ingredients production for different industries

The Brazilian company Citrosuco, one of the largest orange juice producers in the world, responsible for 20% of the global product supply, just announced the launching of Evera, its new business unit that will produce natural ingredients for different industries through the means of reuse technology of…

"When compared to other protected varieties on the market, Valley Gold is very economical"

"Spain's previous citrus campaign was very irregular in terms of prices and this campaign has been marked by a serious drought in the southern part of the country and initial estimates that forecast low volumes in the first part of the campaign, so we hope to turn the Valley Gol mandarin variety into a…

Kinnow exporters Pakistan seek help from government

All stakeholders in kinnow production and exports have sought the government’s assistance in coping with the emerging challenges because of climate change and extreme weather…

First Tan Lac red-flesh grapefruits exported to UK

The first shipment lot of 5,400 Tan Lac red-flesh grapefruits of the province of Hoa Binh was exported to the United Kingdom on November 24. According to Vice Chairman of the…

Mandarin prices in Uzbekistan fell by 37 percent in a week

The average wholesale prices for mandarins in Uzbekistan have decreased by 37% over the last week. Despite the sharp decline, current wholesale prices are 31% higher than last…

Annual United Way citrus sale from November 28 until December 2

Indian River County citrus growers and packers are again donating Indian River citrus to benefit the community-wide work of United Way of Indian River County. The annual…

Bangladesh increases duty on Vidarbha oranges

Orange growers and exporters demand intervention from their federal government by hiking duties on imports from Bangladesh, which has increased import duties on the citrus…

Retailer spotlights seasonal Mexican drink

The holiday season is most certainly a time for traditional drinks and Cardenas Markets, a supermarket chain specializing in Latin American foods, has put together a display around Ponche. Ponche is a beloved traditional Mexican fruit punch made up of sugarcane, walnuts, mandarin oranges, Mexican…

Estate for sweet lime research near Aurangabad to become reality soon

The proposed citrus estate in Aurangabad, aimed at cultivation and research in the field of sweet lime production, will probably become a reality soon. The State Agricultural…

Satsuma overload: citrus growers need to diversify

Citrus harvest season is in full swing across the North Florida/South Georgia production region. One thing is certain this season: growers need to diversify their farming…

Central Valley temperatures still important for citrus growers

Central Valley citrus growers have been waiting for temperatures around 30°F to enable them to get harvesting. Jared Gomes with Pro Citrus Network: "It needs the cold weather…

Low demand for lemons and grapefruit in Europe despite smaller supply

The demand in the lemon market remains quiet, which is usually the case in November, when consumption always shows signs of weakness, according to Ailimpo, the Interprofessional Association of Lemon and Grapefruit, which expects consumption to revive in December. With the Fino or Primofiori varieties, two…

"The export price of Nanfeng tangerines dropped slightly compared to last year"

Nanfeng tangerines produced in Jiangxi, China, have entered the peak harvest season. It is understood that due to the weather this year, the production season has been delayed by two weeks compared to the past. In order to understand the current production season and the export performance of Nanfeng…

Four pomelo planting areas in Ba Ria-Vung Tau licensed to export to US

Four pomelo planting areas in Ba Ria-Vung Tau have been licensed to export their fruit to the US. The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development granted the…

Orange prices may surge in Pakistan due to low yields

In Pakistan, the prices of oranges may rise this winter as the production recorded was very low (50 percent) due to acute canal water scarcity and unexpected higher…

US orange juice imports from Brazil surging

Shipments of Brazilian orange juice to the US are up 58% in the first four months of the season from a year ago, hitting a record 112,500 metric tons to the end of October,…

"The fresh Bergamot orange market must not take a step back"

"We started a few days ago, almost one month late, and sales on the foreign fresh market are currently at a standstill. The season used to start in October in previous years. The processing industry started purchasing produce a few weeks ago," reports Antonino Quattrone from Società Agricola Quattrone, a…

November started with Spanish citrus fruits reaching some of the highest prices in recent years

The month of November started with the prices of Spanish citrus fruits showing the same trends as in the last week of October, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture,…

New Zealand to welcome pomelos and lemons from Vietnam

On November 15, New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Tredene Dobson attended an event marking an important milestone in agricultural cooperation between the two countries.…

"Spanish citrus selling quite well; persimmon season to end qearly"

The Spanish citrus season is in full swing at the Groot fresh group in the Netherlands. "Currently, we have plenty of Clemenules. Spain's largest mandarin areas had lots of rain two weekends ago. Despite that, there's sufficient supply. Most are larger sizes, though; there are few small ones," says…

Maputo cold store will open up new avenues for 2023 South African citrus exports

At the Matola Cargo Terminal in Mozambique, The Logistics Group and FPT have started construction of the Maputo Cold Store and a fruit consolidation hub. It is planned to be ready in time for next year’s citrus season. Currently fruit can only be loaded at ambient temperature from the port of Maputo.…

Uzbekistan extends zero rates on banana and citrus imports

Uzbekistan has extended customs privileges for the import of 22 types of food products, including bananas and citrus fruits (fresh or dried), for another six months. On…

Calm start of the season for Sicilian Navelina oranges

“The 2022/23 Sicilian Navelina orange campaign is starting with a slight delay, but organoleptic qualities are excellent. There are currently no problems on a commercial level, as demand and supply seem balanced," reports Giovanni Scavo, sales manager at Girasole Soc. Coop.. Il Girasole is located in Paternò…

Moroccan Nadorcott volumes plummet as drought persists

The persistent drought in Morocco has severely affected the production of Nadorcott, the Moroccan mandarin variety. Producers in the Houara region (near Agadir) have reported…

Lower volumes expected for Moroccan citrus

The combination of several factors is leading to a difficult season for Moroccan citrus. Mr. Mouad Hfa, production manager at the Moroccan producer and exporter Pro Prim, located in the Souss and Chichawa regions, has forecast a 30-40% drop in volumes compared to the previous season. Mr. Mouad explains: "This…

New Gaudí-style Serena orange box

The new Spanish orange season has started at Frukar. Thinking ahead to the future, this Dutch company has developed a new strong cardboard box for Serena oranges. It is in the style of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. "It's really up to what buyers prefer, packaging-wise. We have something for everyone. We…

Egyptian citrus prices are expected to remain stable this season

In a very memorable year for Egyptian citrus in terms of quality, but difficult in terms of commercial challenges, Egyptian citrus exporters want to maintain attractive prices. Ms. Fatima Elzhraa Tarek El Hadary, export sales executive at Alsolimania, said: "This year is very favorable for us in Egypt,…

Lime prices expected to pick back up towards Thanksgiving

The supply of limes is currently ample coming out of Mexico. “There is no lack of supply at this time and the sizes are mainly 200s and larger because we are nearing the end of the crop,” says Tony Campos of International Citrus & Produce, a family-owned business that has been around for 46 years with…

Ag faculty member devising new drug-delivery tactic for citrus greening disease

Purdue University’s Kurt Ristroph has received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to develop nanocarriers as an antibiotic delivery system to help plants fend off citrus greening disease. More formally known as Huanglongbing (HLB),…

The Generalitat and the sector promote the ‘Naranja Valenciana‘ label

The President of the Generalitat, Ximo Puig, presented in an event held at the Palau de les Comunicacions the ‘Valenciana’ label, a quality seal registered by the IGP Citrus Protegits Regulatory Council that identifies the citrus fruits grown in the Valencian Community. Isaura Navarro, the Minister of…

Hargill mexfly quarantine removed in Texas

Federal and state agriculture officials on Sept. 21 removed the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Hargill, Willacy County, Texas, after three generations elapsed with…

Italian professionals working abroad with citrus, dried fruits and kaki productions

Despite some problems in terms of structure and supply chain organization, Italian production and farmers are seen by foreign countries, especially those in the Maghreb and the Middle East, as a role model for production results, for they are obtained by methods that take into account techniques and…

"Low profile, good planning and a lot of negotiation"

Five years ago, Biagio and Tiziano Porretta, two young brothers from Calabria who shared their family's passion for citrus fruit, decided to set up a company that focuses mainly on exports to Europe.   Tiziano and Biagio Porretta (Photo by: Arpo Distribuzioni) "We produce various citrus fruit varieties on 25…

Persistent drought slows down Nadorcott season in Morocco

Morocco is largely under the threshold of water shortage. Many crops, including Nadorcotts, are marking time but producers remain confident in the solidity of the industry. Mr. Youssef Maaouni, producer and exporter of Nadorcott in Agafay/Marrakesh, said: "This season, volumes will be lower than expected…

French stores sell clementines at € 7/kg while a chain in Spain lowers its price by 25% to € 1.49/kg

In France, Spanish clementines are sold to the public for up to 7 euro per kilo. This price is up to three times higher than in Spanish supermarkets, while the purchase and…

Florida citrus industry dodges bullet with hurricane Nicole

When Hurricane Nicole formed off Florida’s east coast, citrus growers held their collective breath after the beating they took in late September from Hurricane Ian. Nicole made landfall just south of Vero Beach on Nov. 10. Winds near hurricane strength were recorded at multiple weather stations as Nicole…

CRISPR research update for HLB and canker

Yianni Lagos, chief executive officer of Soilcea, told the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) in October about his company’s efforts to use CRISPR gene editing to aid the citrus industry in its struggles with canker and HLB. Soilcea was founded to find solutions to these citrus diseases. The company has…

New packaging for Italian PGI clementines

With new sustainable packaging, La Grande Bellezza Italiana (LGBI) aims to further highlight the quality of its PGI clementines from the Gulf of Taranto. "Our PGI clementines from the Gulf of Taranto have excellent taste, Brix value and acidity, as well as a remarkable aroma. These characteristics are…

"Thanks to good growing conditions, volume of grapefruit from Yunnan is stable"

The domestically produced grapefruit was launched in October, taking over from the South African imported grapefruit which is at the end of its production season. There are many grapefruit production areas in China but Yunnan is the most conducive to the growth of various fruits due to its rich light…

"We have had an exceptional season, both in terms of yield and challenges"

Confirming earlier reports, more Egyptian citrus growers celebrated an exceptional quality of harvest this season. Mr. Amgad Nessem, export manager of Elteriak Farms, said: "This season's harvest is characterized by very good quality and an abundance of medium-sized fruits. In Navel oranges, for example,…

Strong quality on Mexican lemons

Demand for lemons looks to be steady. “Although nationally I feel that business is a bit slow. I don’t know if it has to do with inflation because the expenses are definitely up. But citrus prices aren’t reflecting that on lemons or oranges or limes either,” says Paul G. Gonzalez of River City Produce Inc. in San Antonio,…

South Korea's Jeju to develop own citrus and kiwi cultivars

South Korea's resort island of Jeju, aims to develop their own tangerine and kiwi varieties to be less dependant on Japan and Zespri.  The island, known for producing the sweet…

Eco-protection company kicks off Northern Hemisphere 2022-23 citrus season

Save Foods, has kicked off the Northern Hemisphere citrus season from November 2022 to April 2023. The agri-food tech company specializing in eco-crop protection that helps to…

Chinese red pomelos are popular in Vietnam

According to VnExpress, because of low prices, Chinese red pomelos are quickly out of stock in Vietnam. Chinese red pomelos sell for 30,000-50,000 VND (¥8.5-14 /piece) each,…

Optimism remains high for the Comune clementines sales campaign

Martucci, a company from the southern Italian region of Apulia that has been packaging and marketing citrus since 1980, started the new season of Comune clementines last week. Sales director Daniele Martucci provided more details on the campaign. Sorting line for Comune clementines at Martucci's packing station…

Irrigation contributes to rising citrus yields in São Paulo

The use of irrigation for citrus in Brazil’s state of São Paulo has grown by almost 33% in the last six years, according to Citricultor magazine, published by Fundecitrus. The magazine cites irrigation and other improved growing practices as causes for a continuing yield rate acceleration.      In 35 years, citrus production per hectare in…

A drop in orange juice consumption foreshadows high prices and a receding 2023

Despite being on track to finish at a 20% high, the 2022/23 orange harvest season will be remembered by the juice industry for the challenges of inelastic demand, at least in…

"Spanish Navelina began late, so we're off to a good start right away"

Dutch Green, a wholesaler in Amsterdam, is not a fan of starting early. At least as far as citrus imports are concerned. On Friday, they received their first Navelina oranges from Cordero, Spain. "We're a week later than most, so we can guarantee top quality right away," says Hans Tabak. "Our shipping…

Morocco exports spurred by berries, mandarins, watermelons avocados and oranges

Morocco has become the 15th-largest fruit exporter in the world by value. According to the most recent estimates (2019) by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 66 percent of its land area is devoted to agriculture, with more than 7 percent devoted to fruit production.…

Biofruit Trading

"We must get used to Sicilian citrus hitting the market later"

The citrus season in the northern hemisphere is slowly picking up speed. However, the relatively high temperatures (about 20 degrees) have significantly slowed down the growth of citrus in Sicily, as Nicoló Sparacino, specialized organic citrus importer and managing director of Biofruit Trading, based in…

"Process automation facilitates the reduction of production costs in citrus warehouses"

"The citrus industry is one of the most suited for the implementation of complete warehouse automation solutions because of its production volumes and the duration of its campaigns," said Jaime Mendizábal, commercial director of Maf Roda, manufacturer of automation technology solutions for the fresh…

Strong Satsuma season projected from Sweet Valley Citrus region

A heavy crop of Satsuma mandarins from the Sweet Valley Citrus region is maturing and will begin shipping about two weeks ahead of the 2021 season. “The 2022 crop looks great,” said Kim Jones, current president of Cold Hardy Citrus Association. “Color break has been early, Brix is already testing as high…

"The markets should be aware of the price we growers have to sell fruit for"

The oranges of the new 2022/23 season are already being harvested in Alicante. "Our warehouse activity is almost 90% focused on oranges, since we usually work directly in the field with lemons and mandarins. Especially with the fruit with leaf," explains Héctor Mallol, commercial director of Naturnar. "Citrus fruits…

Rain knocks Nagpur's orange crop down by 50% in India

The winter orange crop in Nagpur, India is down by 50% following damage caused by incessant rain. The quality of the oranges are also affected with smaller fruits being…

Florida orange production estimated at 28.0 million boxes

The USDA has released its forecast for the Florida citrus season. All oranges 28.0 million boxesThe 2022-2023 Florida all orange forecast released today by the USDA…

Assessment rate set for California citrus growers

The California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) has established an assessment rate for California citrus producers of 3.2 cents per 40-pound standard field box for the…

NIFA invests $21.7M in emergency citrus disease research and extension

USDA-NIFA’s Emergency Citrus Disease Research & Extension (ECDRE) program brings the nation's top scientists together with citrus industry representatives to find…

The number of pest interceptions in citrus shipments from South Africa and Argentina in October was outrageous

"The number of interceptions of citrus fruits imported into the EU with harmful organisms in October is scandalous. There were 35 rejections, 30 of which come from South…

The IGP Cítricos Valencianos celebrated the start of the Valencian citrus campaign

The Protected Geographical Identification Cítricos Valencianos has celebrated for the third consecutive year the harvest of the first Valencian orange to kick off the citrus season. This symbolic event brings together the entire sector and announces that the mandarins and oranges produced in the…

"The number of complaints at destination about the quality of clementines and oranges is skyrocketing"

In recent weeks, the presence of the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata has become a bigger problem in the main citrus producing areas of the Region of Valencia due to the persistent warm temperatures, which facilitate the proliferation of this pest and are causing unforeseen financial losses.…

Freshcare and Citrus South Australia successfully pilot commodity specific program for citrus growers

Freshcare and Citrus SA have partnered to develop specific tools and resources to assist citrus growers with standards program management and preparation for audit. The program, tailored to citrus growers, simplifies the record-keeping process and implementation of the Food Safety & Quality Standard…

California oranges shipped to Korea require treatment

The California Citrus Quality Council (CCQC) is reminding California orange packinghouses that the first preharvest field application of zinc-copper-lime — or a registered alternative — is required for all orange blocks eligible to ship to Korea this season. These fungicide applications are protective…

Florida’s farmers brace for new tropical storm called Nicole

Florida’s produce industry took an almost $2 billion hit from Hurricane Ian and is now bracing for more as Tropical Storm Nicole follows a track toward the state’s eastern…

South Africa leads the pack with orange imports to EU

During October 2022 South Africa was the leading exporter of oranges to the European Union with 132 455 tons out of total imports from all countries of 157 821 tons for the…

Lebanese fruit and vegetable producers approach the Arab Gulf market

Traditionally less competitive than their North African peers when it comes to achieving economies of scale, Lebanese fresh fruit and vegetable producers have long focused on niche markets and high-end products. Today, they want to take full benefit of their competitive advantages and do more business in…

China: "Affordability key for future sales"

Leopard Fruit Trading (Shanghai) is the Chinese branch company of Jaguar. The office in Shanghai is specialized in the import of citrus, and has grown into one of largest citrus importers to China since it's foundation in 2016 The company's main import destinations are Egypt, South Africa and Peru.…

"Did you know that an orange starts losing its properties once it's harvested from a tree?"

The Valencian Association of Farmers (AVA-ASAJA) has harshly criticized the latest ad aired by Don Simón, a brand of the García Carrión business group, which states that…

McDonalds blame supply chain issues for orange juice restrictions

McDonald’s New Zealand will restrict sales of orange juice, blaming a global supply issue for the squeeze. The company said covid had impacted the harvesting season and…

"The orchard price of Jiuyuehong navel oranges may open higher yet finish low"

The Jiuyuehong navel orange is one of the earliest-ripening navel orange varieties in China. It is rich in juice with a jelly-like flesh. In previous years, this variety was launched in September. This year, due to the dry weather, the production season was postponed until the end of October and it…

Poor export performance of multi-category citrus products

Affected by the pandemic situation globally, the rise in international oil prices and the situation in Russia and Ukraine, many citrus products this season have experienced…

The new yield management platform saving apple and citrus growers time in the field

New yield management tools for the citrus and apple industries have been achieving great productivity gains for Australian growers since their introduction, according to the international agritech data analytics company that launched the technology. Aerobotics' app allows growers to capture yield…

Later and slower start for Turkish citrus

There was a later start for the Turkish citrus this year, says Coskun Eren, marketing manager for Turkish fresh produce exporter Eren. He states that the higher prices at the start of the season didn’t really help with picking up the pace. “This year, the Turkish citrus season started two weeks later…

Unique citrus varieties make Morocco a key supplier to the US

The first Moroccan citrus of the season is on its way to the US. For LGS Specialty Sales, their first arrival will be in the week of November 14 and the company expects steady supplies through the middle of May. “About 20 years ago, we started importing from Morocco and over time, the country has become…

One of the oldest citrus companies in Castellon closes after 97 years of activity

After 97 years dedicated to the export of oranges and mandarins, the Peris Agost Hermanos company based in Almassora has presented a Statutory Lay-off proceeding that affects…

Special flavour Tokyo Shima lemon KitKat chocolate produced

A special limited-edition KitKat chocolate has been made in Tokyo, Japan, from lemons grown on Tokyo's Ogasawara islands. This is part of Nestle's gotoichi (regional) series…

Favorable weather conditions to boost citrus season in Egypt

Egypt has enjoyed a "very successful" citrus flowering period, thanks to weather conditions. Mr Ahmed Serhan, CEO of Frutella, stated: "During the citrus' flowering season, we didn't have temperature fluctuations between day and night. We had less humidity and no fogging. Thanks to favorable weather…

Bild: Grundhöfer GmbH

Grundhöfer Ltd has become rightsholder of citrus and premium brand Götterfrucht

Since the 1950s, the Götterfrucht brand has been well-known in Germany and even throughout Europe. Previously, it was owned by the Peris Agost Hermanos family, which recently gave up its business, Peter Grundhöfer, managing director of Frankfurt company Grundhöfer Ltd, tells us. Since the brand was up…

Cold-hardy citrus research initiatives

The Fruit Crop Physiology Lab at the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Quincy is focused on developing a sustainable and profitable cold-hardy citrus…

"Last year, producing a kilogram of mandarins cost 35 cents; now it costs no less than 50 cents"

According to ASAJA-Almeria, this year's production costs and how they affect the producer's profitability will be a key factor to assess this year's citrus campaign. "Last year, producing one kilo of mandarins cost 35 cents; now, it costs no less than 50 cents. So what good is it to achieve acceptable…

Record prices for lemons in Poland

Due to supply limitations, there has been a persistent upward trend in lemon prices on the Polish market. The import of lemons from the southern hemisphere has already ended,…

USDA invites bids to sell fresh oranges

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently invited offers to sell significant quantities of fresh oranges for use in the National School Lunch Program and other federal food…

Federal and state officials ease Mexfly actions in Texas

One Mexican fruit fly quarantine in Texas was recently removed, and portions of another Mexfly quarantine were released. Federal and state officials on October 13 removed the…