USDA

Chilean lemon production to increase by 26.4 percent and total 172,000 metric tons

In MY 2022/23, FAS Santiago estimates lemon production will increase by 26.4 percent and total 172,000 MT (metric tons) due to favorable climatic conditions. Lemon exports will increase by 33.9 percent and reach 75,000 MT due to higher productions and a decrease in freight costs. Likewise, in MY 2022/23,…

Brazilian orange and Tahiti lime prices dropped in May

The prices of the main citrus fruits surveyed by Cepea dropped in May in the Brazilian market. This downward trend was already expected by the agents in the sector, since the…

"This was the most difficult season I've seen in 10 years"

Only a few weeks remain before the end of the citrus season in Egypt. It's been a season of highs and lows, according to exporters' reports, who have oscillated during the campaign between anxiety and delight. Ibrahim Gadallah, development manager of JanaFresh, sums up the season in a "down-to-earth…

Georgia: Peach state turns to citrus as HLB ravages Florida oranges

A growing number of farmers are migrating the citrus business north. HLB, or citrus greening, a quick-spreading disease moving through Florida's citrus orchards, is…

Zimbabwe may now export fresh citrus to China

According to a tweet from within the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe, fresh citrus from Zimbabwe can now be exported to the Asian nation. "On June 1st 2023, the General…

Researchers from China and Pakistan innovative endophyte-mediated approach to citrus greening

Huanglongbing or citrus greening disease, seems to be spreading to citrus trees across the globe, with more than 10 million diseased trees destroyed all over China each year…

Vietnam: Ninh Thuan grapefruits receive code to export to US

Grapefruits grown in Phuoc Binh commune, Bac Ai district in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan have received a farming area code, which means they are now eligible for…

Peruvian citrus exporter looking to increase market share in Canada, Europe and UK

Peru’s citrus is moving swiftly with some producers seeing a two week delay in starting the harvesting of Tango, satsumas and novas. According to Roberto Vargas, from Asesorias e Inversiones Muva S.A.C, they are looking to increase their market share in Canada, Europe and the UK. “We started in week 13…

Last year, more than 6,000 hectares of citrus fruit were abandoned in the Valencian production areas

As the 2022-2023 citrus campaign comes to an end, La Unió Llauradora expressed "its concern about the continued loss of harvest production in the Valencian Community over the last three campaigns and most likely also for the 2023-2024 campaign." "Production this year has been just over 2.9 million tons,…

Brazil: New Tahiti lemon has superior productivity

Brazilian citriculture gains three important new materials, two varieties of orange and one of Tahiti lemon. Limão Tahiti BRS EECB IAC Ponta Firme has a productivity of 80…

Phytosanitary inspections support citrus, grape and mango producers in Brazil

The inspection work out by the Agricultural Defense Agency of Bahia (Adab) follows the flow in the Territory of Piemonte Norte do Itapicuri. The team made up of state…

Chile and South Korea restart trade negotiations to lower citrus tariffs

The South American exporter of citrus and other fruits have restarted negotiations with South Korea to amend the existing FTA between them following a two year break. Chile…

Native raspberries, limes and more: how did these curious plants end up in Australia?

While plants can’t walk, they can certainly travel. Some species have travelled vast distances over millennia, moving by different and varied modes. Some found new habitats…

Bhutan’s drop in cash crop production puts export targets at risk

Bhutan’s production of the top three cash crops, apple, areca nuts and mandarin orange, has declined. Apple, mandarin, and areca nut are the leading cash crops among the fruit…

Colourful citrus sees growing popularity in Australia

South Australian Produce Market communications manager Penny Reidy said retailers could help drive sales by cutting up fruit for display. "They all quite often look the same…

Exotics exporter wants to be Colombia’s fruit ambassador to rest of world

The exotic fruits exporter Cosmo Fruit, aims to be Colombia’s fruit ambassador to the rest of the world. According to Mauricio Lopez N., President and CEO, they want to expand their exotic fruit from currently supplying North America and Europe, to the Middle-East and Asia. “We are working with conventional…

US orange juice sales fall while price climbs

US orange juice retail sales have decreased by 13.2% this season to 27.17 million equivalent gallons. OJ’s average season-to-date price has climbed 12.6% to $8.61 per…

After 20 years, the EU reopens its market to Argentine organic citrus fruits

Argentina's Ministry of Agriculture has reported that, after 20 years, the European Union has reopened its market to the country's organic citrus; thanks in part to the…

Grade level and fruit size impact California lemon season

California’s lemon growing regions are facing unique situations this season driven by common events of high, frequent precipitation and cooler temperatures. District 1, the San Juaquin Valley growing region, began harvest in late October and is now coming to an end. Rain amounts during the primary…

Brazil welcomes first orange variety that is resistant to yellowing

Brazilian citriculture is been blessed with great news: an orange variety that is naturally resistant to the bacterium that causes yellowing. The disease, also called citrus…

Too many imported lemons as Italian supplies remain low

As the domestic lemon supply is limited, operators currently seem to prefer the imported produce. "It is not a good moment for Italian lemons, mainly due to two reasons: on the one hand, a lot of produce is coming in from Greece, Turkey and Argentina at very low prices (-55%) while, on the other hand,…

South African fruit exports can’t do without Russia

South Africa has had an unusual amount of rain, overlapping among the summer and winter rainfall areas, and days of harvest have been lost.“Every time you think you can hazard a guess, it rains again,” Francois Hugo of Pomona Fruit says. The company supplies Russian retail with South African fruit.…

Thailand gets green light for pomelo exports to US and Australia

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the United States will start to import Thai pomelos next month. Rapeepat Chantarasriwong, director-general of the…

Belize: CGA rejects harsh outlook for citrus

The Citrus Growers Association (CGA) in Belize has explained in detail all the challenges the nation’s citrus industry has faced in recent years, but also highlights the great…

UK and Europe “screaming for citrus” but still more rain for South Africa

Rain is expected to continue in the Western and Eastern Cape as a cutoff low moves over. Snow has fallen over the mountains of the Western and the Eastern Cape. "Given the recent rainfall and increased soil moisture over parts of the Western and Eastern Cape, sporadic heavy rainfall may enhance the…

A closer look at South African citrus for 2023

Vanguard has received the full estimate for the 2023 citrus crop in South Africa. The latest estimate is 165.6 million cartons--800,000 more than last year. Two interesting commodities have emerged in the industry over the past few years. Lemons have witnessed a significant surge in plantings over the…

WA citrus season opens as industry continues to flourish

Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis has launched the 2023 Western Australian citrus season today, with premium quality WA oranges, mandarins and lemons about to hit…

Peru declares a phytosanitary emergency in two regions because of a pest affecting citrus crops

The Peruvian Ministry of Agricultural Development and Irrigation (Midagri) has declared a phytosanitary emergency in the regions of Ucayali and Loreto due to Xanthomonas citri…

USDA

Apples and oranges are the top U.S. fruit choices

Apples held the top spot for total fruit available for consumption in 2021 with loss-adjusted apple juice availability at 14.7 pounds (1.7 gallons) per person; fresh apples at roughly 9 pounds per person; and canned, dried, and frozen apples totaling to 3.1 pounds per person. Bananas (13.2 pounds per…

Egyptian citrus did not do well in China this season

This year's citrus season in Egypt is marked by high volumes, but an abundance of small sizes to the detriment of large and medium sizes. For exporters focused on the Chinese market, this situation is having a major impact on business. Amr Abdelhafiz, Managing Director of the Egyptian exporter Kingo,…

Bhutan’s mandarin orange and apple growers promised to have enough boxes this season

Mandarin orange and apple exporters can expect a better export season this year, as the packaging industry has agreed to supply the required packing boxes. According to the Association of Wood-based Industries (AWBI), 400,000 boxes from different saw millers are expected to meet the requirement of…

“The fruit quality and taste is very good, but as predicted sizes will be smaller"

The Navel harvest will finally start for grower/exporter Sai World this weekend after they delayed the first picking to allow for better colour and brix levels. “The fruit quality and taste is very good, but as predicted sizes will be smaller. We will peak at 88’s for the early Navels and Washington…

Later transition to import soft citrus in 2023?

There’s always a bit of uncertainty hanging over just when U.S. retailers will start the transition to imported soft citrus. “This year is no different,” says Mark Greenberg of Capespan North America. California: The soft citrus (easy-peeler) market is still largely dominated by mandarins out of…

Namibian citrus growers join their Southern African CGA neighbours

To commemorate Africa Day and this year’s theme of accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and deepening economic integration…

Export prices offset the decline in Spanish citrus production

This season's notable fall in citrus production has been offset by prices that have defended the value of exports against the drastic drop in volumes traded. The production…

The cedar from Santa Maria del Cedro is now a product of designated origin

The cedar from Santa Maria del Cedro has finally entered the European Register of Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications (see Official Journal of the European Union, 17/05/2023). "The PDO process has been long and not without obstacles, culminating in the intense work…

Without AGOA South African citrus loses its edge in the US

South Africa’s citrus exports to the United States have over recent years grown to a value of almost R1.7 billion (close to 808 million euros), a consistent performer during the past few turbulent seasons – but it is at risk if the United States decides not to extend their free trade agreement with South…

“Rising US mandarins demand, price increases in Europe due to market shortages"

The Peruvian exporter Compañía de Exportaciones y Negocios Generales (Coexa) sees a rising demand for mandarins in the US market, while in Europe they see price rises due to a market shortage of imported fruit. According to Rodrigo Cisneros, commercial manager at Coexa: “The demand for mandarins in the…

'Transformation very important for SA citrus industry'

South Africa’s citrus industry has come a long way since the first time citrus groves were planted on South African soil. Over the years, the industry has grown in leaps and…

Cold-hardy citrus production and challenges

Cold-hardy citrus is grown across a few thousand acres in more than 16 counties in North Florida and South Georgia. The satsuma mandarin is a cold-hardy species that has been…

Transnet Port Terminals is preparing for a bumper citrus season

Striving to handle increased volumes of citrus for current citrus export season, Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) says its operators of lifting equipment are concluding a…

Citrus Black Spot spreads in Polk County

Citrus black spot (CBS) disease was confirmed at a second location in Florida’s Polk County in March. The new find was in a grove near State Road 60 and Indian Lake Estates,…

Citrus growers in Algarve predict drop in production due to drought

Algarve’s citrus growers are anticipating a drop in production due to the prolonged drought. A lack of rain is forcing them to water uninterruptedly, and growers fear that…

Egyptian Agricultural Export Council imposes inspection of all containers of Egyptian citrus to EU until end of season

Following the decision of the European Union to increase the inspection samples of Egyptian citrus from 20% to 30%, due to the detection of chlorpyrifos ethy1 in citrus shipments from Egypt, Egyptian exporters met urgently to address the situation. Muhammed Shaker, one of the citrus grower-exporters who…

High prices in the final stretch of the citrus campaign

There is hardly any fruit left in the fields of the Valencian Community, Andalusia, Murcia or Catalonia as the citrus harvesting season is ending and prices at source can be…

"Demand for lemons has been low all season and there is uncertainty as to whether it will revive in the summer"

The start of the Verna lemon harvest, whose production has fallen significantly this year, has not helped in boosting the demand, which has remained generally quiet throughout the winter for the Primofiori variety. For the off-season campaign, larger volumes are expected from South Africa and lower ones…

South African citrus growers in urgent need of state support

The South African citrus industry has achieved remarkable growth over the past few years, with 164.8-million cartons of fruit packed for export across the globe in 2022. By…

Limorè reaches Australia

After 28 days at sea, the first container of Italian Limorè lemons reached Australia on May 18th 2023. The fruit will soon be distributed to supermarket chains and high-end restaurants in Sidney and Melbourne. Consorzio di Produttori di Limoni Associati di Rocca Imperiale reported that "around 50 thousand kg of products were shipped…

Good late orange and blood orange campaign in Sicily

"Cooperativa Il Girasole is among the few citrus fruit companies still processing fruits this season with late oranges such as Valencia Late and Ovale Calabrese. In addition, we believe we are the only ones who will commercialize Meli and Sant'Alfio Tarocco oranges until late-May. Luck was on our side,…

ClemenGold donates 1,000 tons of citrus to South Africans during 2023 season

ClemenGold® International has just announced a partnership with SA Harvest, to donate 1,000 tonnes of citrus to South Africans during the 2023 citrus season. “Caring for the communities surrounding our partner farms and packhouses has been a value upon which we’ve acted since the establishment of our business.…

Polk County citrus grower aims to create central Florida’s first avocado farm

Polk County citrus grower, Mitch McLellan is moving on from citrus after a tree disease and a hurricane wiped out his grove. He says many growers throughout Florida are losing…

Slow movement on lemons expected to pick up

The lemon season in Mexico has started earlier than usual and with good volumes and a wide range of sizes. Luis Gudino, CEO of SiCar Farms says the current crop of lemons is an off bloom which is allowing for product availability before the regular lemon season begins in July. This season is expected to…

Data from two new UF/IFAS citrus varieties experiments advances

Citrus growers in Florida’s “River” production region along the Indian River Lagoon develop unsurpassed flavor and texture in a fresh grapefruit product coveted worldwide.…

“We have seen a strong demand for Peru’s citrus, especially for seedless easy peelers”

Amidst increasing supply from the Southern Hemisphere, key world markets of the US, Europe and Asia are showing a strong demand for citrus from Peru, especially seedless easy peelers. This is according to Lavesh Mirpuri, Commercial Manager at Consorcio de Productores de Fruta (CPF), a Peruvian citrus and…

"Peculiar markets for plantain and yuca. Excellent season for Santo Domingo yellow mango."

"The last three years, worsened also by covid-19 and the climate change, have been very complicated for plantains, with missing investments in plantations in Ecuador and Colombia. First and foremost, the investments in agrochemicals, due to rising prices," explains Giorgio Donnarumma, sales manager of…

Argentina’s citrus sector faces further headwind in delayed start to 2023 season

Argentina’s citrus sector faces further headwinds after a delayed start to the 2023 season due to drought, with the country facing the world’s worst inflation of over 100% and currency challenges. Despite these challenges producers say they have long term investments and commitments to honour and will…

Citrus growers choose the best business of the 2022/23 campaign

Naranjasyfrutas.com, a leading platform in Spain that is used by thousands of farmers to announce their productions with their contact details, has carried out its first survey on the sale of this 2022/2023 harvest to reward the business that is best valued by farmers. The award will be presented on June…

Florida budget includes $65 million for citrus

This year’s Florida state budget, established by the Legislature in early May, is the largest in history at nearly $115 billion. Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) reported that…

SA citrus industry faces challenges in 2023 that threaten its sustainability

South African citrus growers are seeking answers from the government on what it said was the European Union's unfair regulations regarding the False Coddling Moth. The EU…

Fair demand from Europe for South African citrus

Autumn rain continues to fall over the Loskop Valley where lemons and clementines are waiting to be harvested.The rain, blocking out picking this whole week, shouldn’t set them back very much, remarks Charles Rossouw of Roslé Farming.“Usually we fire up over weeks 19 and 20 but if we can’t get out of the…

Low orange production limits supply in Brazil’s 2023/24 season

The orange output in the citrus belt in southeastern Brazil (São Paulo and the Triângulo Mineiro) in the 2023/24 season is estimated at 309.34 million boxes of 40.8 kg each.…

Egypt supplied 93% of the oranges that the EU imported in the first quarter of the year

According to the Enhanced Monitoring on EU Citrus Imports report published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, in the 2022/23 campaign, the EU imported…

Citrus consumption in Spain has fallen by 5 kilos per capita in just 10 years

Over the last decade, there has been a decline in the consumption of citrus fruits, both in Spain and at the European level. According to the international agri-food…

Uruguay citrus industry to see 10% lower volumes as it recovers from drought

Uruguay’s citrus industry is relieved to be out of the worst drought in nearly 100 years, with volumes in the current 2023 season expected to be around 10% less than last year according to a producers survey. Alejandro Buratovich, Vice-president of Upefruy and CEO of Frutura Uruguay “This year producers declared…

California Navel orange season ends on high note

California’s Navel orange season started out challenging. “There was quite some rain between December and February and as a result, we were only able to harvest a few days a week for an extended period of time,” says Garrett Steele with Bravante Produce. In addition, pricing on small fruit was down…

Himachal Pradesh to reserve 1,800 hectares for orange production

The Himachal Pradesh government has proposed to cover 1,800 hectares of land in the state for orange production, under HP Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation and Value…

Citrus greening disease increasing in Southern California

Roughly half of Orange County and smaller regions of the other four counties are under quarantine, a California Department of Agriculture map shows. Citrus greening disease was discovered in the U.S. in Florida in 2005, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since then, it has reduced the…

Average Israel Orri mandarin season coming to end

This year’s Israeli premium mandarin Orri season, was described as average, but at least better than last season for producers and exporters. The season is nearly over with some producers expected to ship the last volumes over the next two weeks. According to Yonatan Meron, Export Manager of Granot Fresh…

EU upholds citrus export restrictions for South African goods

Months of high-level engagements between South Africa and the European Union on the EU’s zero-tolerance approach to citrus black spot have yielded no progress. With the…

Limoneira enters partnership on protecting lemons with coating technology

Limoneira Company announced it has entered into an exclusive licensing relationship with Apeel Sciences. Limoneira will protect lemons across its supply chain with Apeel’s…

Looking at fruit genome to accomplish citrus disease resistance

Researchers from the University of Queensland have sequenced the genome of the Australian round lime (also known as the Gympie lime). According to PhD candidate Upuli Nakandala, the work focuses at identifying a gene which provides resistance to Huanglongbing or 'citrus greening', that could be…

EU monthly orange imports amounted to 85.935 tonnes in April 2023

2022/23 EU monthly orange imports amounted to 85.935 tonnes in April 2023, just slightly down from the March imports. Imports from Egypt came in at 83.895 tons. Click here to view the data sheet.   Source: agriculture.ec.europa.eu

Navel orange prices at origin are 180% higher than a year ago

In week 17, there were new and consecutive increases in Navel orange prices both in the field (+1.2%) and at the exit from the plant (+4.9%). Prices at origin were 180% higher than in the same week last year and 43% above the average of this week, according to the latest weekly bulletin on fruit and…

Citrus research funding update

During the recent Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute, Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center,…

Brazil’s climate makes the country the leading grower of oranges

In 2021 the “orange trade” was worth a total of $5.76 bn. This represented a steady state, because between 2020 and 2021 exports grew by just 0.6%. Oranges account for more…

Brazil: Initial orange forecast for 2023–24 at 309 million boxes

The 2023–2024 initial orange forecast for Brazil’s citrus belt is 309.34 million boxes. The forecast was announced on May 10; the projected volume is 1.55% less than the previous crop, which totaled 314.21 million boxes. Citrusindustry.net states that Fundecitrus reported that weather conditions are…

Since 2000, total domestic production of oranges has dropped 80%

American Farm Bureau Federation economist Daniel Munch recently detailed concerns about the U.S. citrus industry in a report titled U.S. Citrus Production – An Uphill Battle…

Lemon exports pull ahead of last year

The South African lemon harvest which started three to four weeks earlier than last year has resulted in accelerated exports: by week 17, exactly two million cartons (15kg) more than last year YTD had been exported (6.1 million cartons). The difference between 2022 and 2023's packed lemon volumes was…

Fruits with fruit fly larvae did not pass quarantine control in the Russian port

The dangerous quarantine object was discovered by inspectors of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance at the Big Seaport in a batch of citrus…

Uzbekistan lemon exports up by 681 tons

Preliminary data from the Statistics Agency indicates that Uzbekistan's lemon exports increased by 681 tons in 1Q23 compared to the same period in 2022, with 2,200 tons worth…

Fight against citrus greening in Florida has exhausted farmers and researchers

Nearly 20 years after citrus greening appeared in Florida, exhausted farmers and researchers struggle to survive a disease destroying the state’s quintessential crop. José Chaparro gives it almost all his time and attention. The UF horticultural sciences professor has researched fruit breeding across the…

Low volumes available as Brazil’s main lime season nears end

Brazil’s Tahiti lime season is winding down slowly with a lower peak seen this year. According to Luiz Eduardo Raffaelli, from the Brazilian exporter Be Fruit: “Last year our season started in early November instead of the usual December. Right now we do not have a lot of volume, we are supposed to be in…

It's been a bleak season for Peruvian citrus

A month and a half after the start of the citrus campaign, the expectations have not been met, as the country has only shipped 12,425 tons of citrus, i.e. 38% less than by the…

Ethylene gas on imperial mandarins: better looks, but reduced shelf life?

Although citrus growers are trying to popularize mandarins with a green tinge, they claim that shoppers are expecting a perfect orange color. The popular imperial mandarin…

Delegation from China Fruit Marketing Association visits Egyptian exporters

The China Fruit Marketing Association visited Egypt last week and met with a number of producers and packing stations, working on the export of grapes, citrus, and pomegranates. Among these companies, is the Egyptian citrus exporter Gelila. Eslam Gelila, CEO of Gelila, said: "It was a very important and…

‘New vegetable market is still just being used as illegal parking space for trucks’

Five-and-a-half years after its inauguration, the second phase of the fruit and vegetable market in Karnal remains non-functional. It has turned into an illegal parking space…

"Prices are high at the end of this year's Sichuan Chunjian production season"

The sales season of Sichuan Chunjian is coming to an end, and the current prices are much higher than in previous years. "The output this year is reduced and the taste is ideal, but the price is high," according to Mr. Li Yongqiang of the Xinping Zhenxin Fruit Factory speaking to FreshPlaza.  "Last year, the…

"Entire overseas citrus line is much earlier"

"The overseas citrus season is, once again, off to an interesting start," says Exsa Europe's Eddy Kreukniet. "Especially noticeable is that citrus across the board is coming to market as much as two weeks earlier. That makes it as if much larger volumes are being shipped, but considering that we're two…

Smaller US citrus crop offers unique opportunity for Australian producers

The current Florida citrus harvest has been challenged by extreme weather events such as freezing temperatures, cyclones, hail storms and a drought. Production has also been…

Brazil: Prices for Pera sweet oranges and ponkan tangerines dropped in April

The supply of oranges has been low in Brazil since early 2023. In April, Pera sweet oranges available in the market were the ones that ripen out of the usual period. However,…

Experts say an extended drought is affecting areas of Citrus County

Over the last year there has been a rainfall deficit in Citrus County. The eastern side of Citrus has had more rain, and the western side has had a lot less rain. Areas in…

Researchers place sensors on a citrus farm to irrigate the crops sustainably and maintain fruit quality

Researchers from the Institute of Agri-Food Research and Technology (IRTA) have launched a demonstration of the "CITRUSREG: Digitization of irrigation in citrus cultivation through sensors and adaptation to climate change optimize water consumption" project, with the funding of the Department of Climate…

"Late Binchuan Wogan mandarin season late this year, market expected to improve in May"

The Binchuan Wogan mandarin produced in Yunnan, China, is a late-ripening variety of domestic citrus, and it has been harvested and on the market for the past two months. "Binchuan Wogan is usually on the market from March to May every year. This year's production season has been postponed, and ready in…

Commodity downturn could increase farm sales in South Africa

Global markets for citrus, macadamias and avocados remain subdued due to the worldwide economic downturn. At the same time, volumes are increasing from more orchards coming…

"Despite the historic drop in Verna lemon production, demand is slow and very harsh on prices"

The Verna lemon harvest began some days ago and the season has been taking shape as the last batches of Fino lemons, whose campaign has been extended to the maximum this year, are coming to an end. The Verna variety originated in the Vega del Segura, Murcia, and Alicante, but it is also produced in…

Weather and social unrest impact fresh produce harvest in Colombia

As the avocado and lime season kicks off, Carlos Eduardo Beltran, Operations Manager for Managro Fresh, provided insights into the current state of the market. Baltran spoke about the main fresh products handled at Managro Fresh, he stated: "In Managro Fresh, we handle Hass avocado and Tahiti lime; as…

Morocco’s early finish means market is ready for soft citrus imports

Arrivals of imported soft citrus begin this week, starting with fruit from Peru. Andres Haloua of World Fresh Produce Inc. says Peru, which expects an overall volume similar to last year, has begun shipping the Primosole and Satsumas varieties, while Uruguay has also begun to ship, and that fruit should…

"South Africa has good citrus crop, but also many hurdles to overcome"

The arrival of the first grapefruit and mandarins heralds the start of the South African citrus season at Origin Fruit Direct in the Netherlands. The first lemons are also expected by the end of this week. "Everyone's optimistic, as always before a season, but there are also hurdles to overcome in South…

Gayndah citrus growers enjoy strong season and backpacker boom

Growers in Gayndah, near Bundaberg in Queensland's Burnett region, are happy with the exceptional quality of their fruit, particularly of the imperial mandarins. Grower Dennis…

"Since Spain joined the EEC, its citrus production and exports have doubled"

The Citrus Management Committee (CGC) -the association that brings together private companies, business groups and producer organizations- has recently commemorated having been at the "service of exports and Spanish citrus exporters" for half a century. This is what its president, Inmaculada Sanfeliu,…

Federal legislation would conserve citrus land in Florida

Due to hurricanes, citrus greening and unfair trade pressures, Florida’s citrus growers are increasingly left with little choice but to sell their land to developers, said US…

Spanish lemon Verna season kicks off

The Spanish lemon Verna season has kicked off as the Fino lemon season has ended according to the Lemon and Grapefruit Interprofessional Association (AILIMPO). The Verna…

Lemon exports from Argentina expected to continue increasing

Lemon harvesting in Argentina has kicked off. “Our harvest started April 10,” says Mariano Sangronis with Citromax. Usually, harvest begins mid-March for the company, but an unexpected drought during the southern hemisphere summer affected the growth and size of the fruit. “The summer was very dry with…

Citrus shipper adds limes to portfolio

Limoneira is launching its new “Catch the Citrus Wave!™” campaign which features a playful packaging design capturing the essence of a day at the beach, with colorful citrus characters. This year the company has added limes to the campaign and consumers can now enjoy the spirit of summer with lemon,…

SA citrus industry under strain from ongoing power cuts

South Africa’s power cuts are putting a lot of strain on both growers and consumers. Load shedding has increased the costs of commodity production and processing, and…

Early navel season to start this week

The early navel season will start next week for Australian citrus grower and exporter Nutrano. "On the whole it appears as if this season will see us with a balanced average crop," said Nutrano's Executive General Manager Farming Operations Tania Chapman​. "Fruit size may be slightly smaller across Southern…

Uncertainty clouds the upcoming season for international fresh produce markets

A difficult period could be coming up for the Colombian avocados this year. Cesar Paolini, general manager of fresh produce exporter  Arcángel Miguel International SA, focuses on Hass avocados and Persian limes. "Our star product is Hass avocado, which accounts for the majority of our sales. We are also starting…

Central Florida: Hail destroyed thousands of oranges at citrus farm last Tuesday

Strong storms moving through Central Florida on Tuesday dumped a lot of hail. On Wednesday, Showcase of Citrus owner and operator Tara Boshell was assessing the impact the…

LemonGold seedless lemons unlock markets for the “new salt”

“Seedless lemons have been called the holy grail of the citrus industry with its novel solution to the frustrations of fishing out pips from freshly squeezed juice,” says Abs van Rooyen, founder of the ClemenGold® mandarin brand owned by Fruitalyst. The company has taken the lead in the branding and…

Actions against H-2A Wage Rule

Federal legislators have followed through on previously announced plans to try to overturn the Department of Labor’s (DOL) rule to determine wages for temporary foreign agricultural workers under the…

"Early end to Spanish and Moroccan citrus seasons offers chances for South Africa"

The first lemons arriving at SFI Rotterdam kicked off the South African citrus season. Grapefruit in week 19 and mandarins in weeks 19/20 will follow. "The Spanish and Moroccan citrus seasons ended early, so we expect a good start to the overseas season. More is, thus, also being sent to the EU," says…

"Our lemons sell at higher prices than the competition"

PGI lemons from Rocca Imperiale sold under the Limoré brand are known not only in Italy, but in Europe as well. What makes them stand out against the competition is not only the quality, but also the sales price. "No potential clients like to pay more for a product when they could be paying less. When talking…

California Citrus Mutual

New citrus import dashboard now available on California Citrus Mutual website

California Citrus Mutual is excited to launch a new citrus import dashboard that is now available on our website. The new dashboard tracks imports of lemons, oranges, grapefruit, clementines and tangerines available in real time as they are published by USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. The reports…

Bengaluru KR Market: Thieves steal one ton of lemons to cash in

Thieves stole a ton of lemons from KR Market in the last month to take advantage of the rising prices of the fruit. Multiple vendors have had their lemons stolen; in the last…

Florida citrus growers face unique challenges

Citrus fruits account for 14% of total fresh fruit volume available to Americans, with oranges ranking fourth behind bananas, apples and melons in terms of per capita availability. Once leaders in citrus crop production, citrus farmers in the United States, particularly in Florida, have faced numerous…

Spanish oranges have reached the highest prices at origin of the last 10 seasons

Spain's orange production has been reduced by 32% (-608,000 t) compared to the 2021/22 season and by 24% (-409,000 t) compared to the average. According to MAPA's Weekly Agricultural Price Reports, the prices paid to the grower are in many cases the highest in the last ten years. The price at origin for…

Sicily: difficult 2022/23 season for oranges

The Sicilian orange season is over, although there are still considerable batches of late blond varieties that will finish within the next month. The production is however staggered in the various areas of the island. The citrus fruit campaign must be considered as having two phases, i.e. that of…

Business in Muheza district improved further following the start of orange harvests

Business in Muheza district has improved further since the start of this month to July, following the start of orange harvests, the main commercial fruit. Orange stakeholders…

Late start for California Red Scale

This year’s first male flight of California red scale is noticeably later than in prior years, according to Sandipa Gautam, area citrus integrated pest management advisor for…

Seven years of drought catch up with Gamtoos citrus orchards

Despite modest rainfall every now and then, the Gamtoos Valley’s drought is, alas, still with farmers who have now experienced six years of water restrictions. Over that period citrus and vegetable farmers  have had to make do with 40% and then 20% of their usual water allocation. It is expected that the new…

Ramaphosa condemns EU for restrictions on citrus exports from South Africa

Yesterday, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the EU for restrictions on citrus exports from his nation to prevent the importation of non-indigenous moths which…

Cold front across northern China leads to concern about fruit crops

A cold front has caused temperatures to plunge across northern China, sparking concern about damage to fruit and vegetable crops and driving investors to bet on production…

New Zealand citrus provides essential health benefits

New Zealand’s favourite citrus fruit are now in season and Kiwi shoppers are encouraged to enjoy this important produce throughout the day for a great tasting, affordable…

Michoacan's lemon production skyrocketed in the first quarter of the year

According to data from the Agrifood and Fisheries Information Service (SIAP), the state of Michoacan produced 192,157 tons of lemon between January and March, i.e. 72% more…

"Egyptian citrus exports are approaching the 2 million tons mark"

Egypt is experiencing a booming citrus export season, with volumes surpassing last year's figures. This has brought significant financial benefits to the country in terms of foreign currency, with exports every year closer to the $1 billion USD mark. Muhammad Shaker, marketing manager of AlMansi,…

Unicamp researchers add value to orange peels

Citrus fruit peels represent more than 40% of the weight of the raw material used in juice production. Now, researchers from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) have…

EU orange tree orchard area has dropped from 314,400 to 261,900 ha

According to Eurostat crop production annual data, between 2000 and 2022, the EU orange tree orchard area has dropped from 314,400 to 261,900 ha. Italy in particular, saw a drop from 108,700 to 70,400 ha. EU production of oranges, meanwhile, remained fairly steady, coming in at 5.771 thousand tonnes in 2000, and…

Quebec wholesaler opens new facility and discusses summer programs

Canadawide is getting wider. Just recently, the Montreal, Quebec-based produce wholesaler opened a new facility just 10 minutes away from the company's current operations. With that new space, it doubles the company’s pallet capacity for storage as well as doubling their banana ripening rooms. In all,…