Malta cultivation is booming in Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh

Among farmers of Nabinagar, in Brahmanbaria, Bari Malta-1 cultivation has gained popularity. Due to the high demand and massive production of Malta, the farmers expressed…

How much did Egyptian orange imports grow in Spain and the EU last season?

In the 2022/23 campaign, Spain's orange production has been reduced by 20.9%, down to 2.96 million tons, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) with data from September 2022 to April 2023. This drop has had an impact on the volumes exported to international markets, which are down by 15.4%…

California, Mexico and Chile all slimmer on lemon supply

Lemons are tight on supply coming out of a few different regions. “California is very very scarce,” says Paul G. Gonzalez of River City Produce Inc., noting supply is coming from District 2. “It’s a weather issue. The rain events had something to do with it and California also had a wet winter.” At the same…

Villari Group launches new brand 'Ducifinu'

Known all over the world, the Interdonato lemon is characterized by its medium to large size, its typical elliptical shape, its thin epicarp (with a very fine-grained and slightly wrinkled rind, rich in essential oils), its color (which is dull green at the beginning of ripening and then tends to turn…

Historic high prices for oranges announced after meeting of citrus growers in Belize

A јоіnt mееtіng has been соnvеnеd аmоng thе Сіtruѕ Grоwеrѕ Аѕѕосіаtіоn (СGА), Веlіzе Сіtruѕ Мutuаl (ВСМ), аnd Сіtruѕ Рrоduсtѕ оf Веlіzе Lіmіtеd (СРВL) оn Ѕерtеmbеr 19th, 2023.…

University of California looks into lemon pitting

Low temperatures and fluctuations in environmental conditions are among what researcher Ashraf El-Kereamy described as a “possible hypothesis” for the cause of lemon pitting…

Advancements in recyclable packaging on display

As platinum sponsors and dedicated supporters of the produce industry, Seald Sweet is thrilled to announce its presence at the Global Produce & Floral Show in Anaheim, booth #3239. The team will introduce their latest advancements in fresh produce and share its vision of growing together for a healthier…

Spanish fruit cooperative Grupo Clasol merges with San Alfonso

Spanish fruit growers and suppliers Grupo Clasol and Cooperativa San Alfonso in Valencia have merged. This business combination creates an anticipated €120 mln revenue…

"Juicing orange prices to only keep rising"

The South African citrus export season is entering its final phase. It is largely over for lemons, grapefruit, oranges, and mandarins. Juicing oranges, however, can still look forward to a tight market and good prices. Gijsbert van Leeuwen of the Dutch company Olympic Fruit takes stock. "The mandarin…

Belize’s traditional exports seem to face a decline

According to Јulу 2023 data from the Ѕtаtіѕtісаl Іnѕtіtutе оf Веlіzе, іmроrtѕ wеrе uр bу 6.9% аnd dоmеѕtіс ехроrtѕ wеrе dоwn bу 31%. Тоtаl dоmеѕtіс ехроrtѕ fоr Јulу 2023…

Confirmed CLas-positive Asian citrus psyllid found in Ventura County

An Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) sample that was Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas)-positive has been collected from a residential property in Ventura County in the Santa…

US demand for the Brazilian juice underpins exports

The higher demand for orange juice from the United States raised Brazilian exports of the commodity in the first two months of the 2023/24 exporting season (July and August).…

“Argentina’s prices change so fast, supermarkets don’t even put stickers on a product anymore”

As a sign of the challenges in Argentina, prices change so fast supermarkets do not even put price stickers on products anymore. The South American country is facing serious currency issues, price increases over 100%, that is further exacerbated by a long term drought that is forcing the fresh produce…

Hot EU market outweighs tariff impact on South African oranges

Two cold fronts back to back and a spring tide wreaked havoc along the South African coastline, the South African Weather Service said on Monday, and the huge swells caused "major headaches" for them, a source at a shipping line says. "On the past weekend there were swells of 6 or 7 m in Table Bay so…

Spain expects to produce 5.75 million tons of citrus in the 2023/2024 campaign

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food has forecast that Spain will produce 5.754 million tons of citrus in the 2023/2024 campaign, which began on September 1. This figure, obtained from information provided by the main producing autonomous communities, is 0.4% higher than the production…

Egyptian lemons coming soon

Lemons will open the Egyptian citrus season in October. Growers are already harvesting, and exporters are awaiting the official launch of the citrus campaign by the Egyptian authorities. Mahmoud Esawy, export manager of Al Wessam Company for Agri Crops, told FreshPlaza, "Our lemons are now harvested and coloring, to be ready for…

Citrus harvesting trends in Florida

Harvesting citrus is manual and labor intensive, making the cost of labor a key component of the cost of harvesting. The H-2A guest worker program allows companies to…

Good weather means steady lime supplies

While earlier this summer, high temperatures were impacting the lime crop in Mexico, the volume of limes has been pretty steady for the past four weeks now. “The crossings between Texas and California have been over 500 loads,” said Tony Campos of International Citrus & Produce. “There is good weather…

“Early end of South African citrus creates a gap before start of Turkish season”

As there was a lack of rain this year, Turkish citrus is expected to be smaller in sizing this season, says Akin Soyleyen, marketing manager for Turkish exporter Aksun: “Our citrus season is just starting and our expectations remain high, despite the lack of rain this season. While we anticipate the…

Is the lime market a gamble?

Is the lime market a gamble? That is the thought-provoking question with which Fruit Market International's (FMI) Peter Bouman opened his presentation at the Global Tropicals Congress. After all, in the lime market, you can sometimes make quick money but lose it just as fast. FMI is the European Union's largest independent lime…

Pricing of oranges is high in Portugal due to import costs

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Portuguese prices for oranges, carrots, broccoli and olive oil have increased by more than 50%. Due to the Russian invasion, the…

Western Cape citrus export season will end two weeks earlier than usual

Industry experts and economists are predicting that the Western Cape export season for citrus will end two weeks earlier than usual. According to MEC for Agriculture in the…

Season’s first update to Brazil’s orange forecast

The first update of the 2023–24 orange crop forecast for the São Paulo and West-Southwest Minas Gerais citrus belt confirmed the initial May forecast of 309.34 million boxes.…

Citri&Co sales increased by 37%

The latest Citri&Co accounts reveal that the group based in Almassora closed the 2021/2022 campaign with almost 100 million euro in profits after having overcome in the previous campaign a…

New treatments for citrus greening have passed initial testing

Citrus greening, has had an incredibly negative effect on citrus groves in Florida, Louisiana, Texas and around the world. The disease is spread through the Asian citrus…

Spanish lemon harvest will grow by 34% in the 2023/2024 campaign

AILIMPO's estimate for the lemon production in the 2023/2024 season points to the production in Spain reaching 1,365,000 tons; a similar figure to that already achieved in the…

Murcia lemon grower distributes more than 50,000 tons in latest campaign

In its latest campaign, the cooperative Limonar de Santomera has managed to distribute more than 50,000 tons of citrus fruits, mainly lemons. Founded in 1982 in Santomera, a small municipality of just over 16,000 inhabitants located in the Region of Murcia, the firm has been promoting the value of…

Citrus fruits setting record price growths in numerous Russian regions

According to the statistics agency, in August 2023, food products, on average, became 0.6% more expensive compared to July. Apples saw a price increase of 10.9%, while nuts…

"This year, businesses will need more producers to supply themselves with citrus fruits"

Interest in the new citrus campaign is increasing, as evidenced by the increase in activity of Naranjasyfrutas.com, Spain's leading online agricultural market. "The search for mandarin harvests has increased by 40% over the previous year and the search for oranges by 62%. In addition, retailers started…

Citrus pre-season export meeting with a global focus

The California Citrus Quality Council (CCQC) will hold its annual Citrus Preseason Export Meetings on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at the Visalia Convention Center. The…

"Paraguayos are no longer special"

Despite temperatures that are still extremely summery at times, the stone fruit season is now nearing its end, as Enrique Pedros-Frank tells us. "We still have peaches, nectarines and Paraguayos from Spain available, which we can still offer for about a week. Demand for Paraguayos this year has been much…

Treatments for citrus greening provides hope for Florida oranges

Kyle Story's family has owned orange groves in Lake Wales since the 1930s and are planning to produce a million 90-pound boxes this year. This would come out at twice as many…

USDA

Results of the first orange and grapefruit maturity tests for the 2023-2024 season are out

The results of the first orange and grapefruit maturity tests for the 2023-2024 season, using only regular bloom fruit, are listed below. Sample groves and trees remain relatively constant from season to season. The fruit was picked from trees throughout the citrus growing region on August 28-29, 2023. Each…

Mexico produced 3,101,099 tons of limes in 2022,

Mexico primarily supplies Persian limes to the US, accounting for 92.6% of imports (622,479 tons) in 2022, a decrease from 97.5% in 2020. Meanwhile, Colombia has increased its share from 1.8% in 2020 to 5.2% in 2022. Peru also contributes but to a lesser extent. Countries such as Honduras, Guatemala,…

Brazil fresh citrus packers can still increase profitability

Citrus packers are striving to meet increasingly demanding quality expectations, but they also need to increase productivity and improve yields. This is a tricky balance to…

Mediterranean Shipping Company moves record volumes of citrus via Port of Ngqura

Last week, Mediterranean Shipping Company has achieved a record-breaking load from the Port of Ngqura in the Eastern Cape. According to Operations director Ian Rosario, the…

Second half of citrus import season sees much improvement from first half

“We are reaching the end of the summer citrus import season,” says Miles Fraser-Jones with Sierra Produce. He is referring to imports from South Africa, Peru, and Chile. The last arrivals will be late-season mandarins and Midknight oranges from South Africa, expected to arrive through the end of October.…

A storm caused serious damage to crops and infrastructure in several regions of Castellón and Valencia

According to a first emergency estimate carried out by the Association of Farmers of Valencia (AVA-ASAJA), yesterday's storm caused significant damage to crops and agricultural infrastructure in several regions of Castellón and Valencia, especially in the Plana Baixa, Vall d'Albaida, and Los Serranos.…

“We doubled our avocado volume from Peru to South Korea”

The avocado and mandarin producer and exporters Fruit Farm from Peru, have their sight set on growing more in Asian markets. According to Victor Quillay, marketing director of Fruit Farm, their more than 15 years of experience in these markets are paying off. Victor Quillay, marketing director of Fruit…

Microbiology professor appointed chair for developing trees resistant to citrus greening

Working at the cell level to develop a disease- resistant citrus tree holds great promise and potential for the Florida citrus industry. Nian Wang, professor of microbiology…

Grupo Clasol and Cooperativa San Alfonso merge to create a leading citrus and stone fruit group

Grupo Clasol and Cooperativa San Alfonso are joining forces to create a leading fruit and vegetable group, combining the best of the cooperative and private models. The new alliance's innovative business model will focus on citrus and stone fruit production. This new entity has four packing plants: two…

"The European market currently demands oranges of medium and small calibers"

After two years strongly affected by spring frosts, this year the European stone fruit harvest should have increased, driven by the recovery of the Spanish production, especially that of nectarines and Paraguayo peaches, and of the French, which would have grown for the second consecutive year. This…

Peruvian citrus exports to date have decreased by 17% over the previous year

According to data from Fresh Fruit, Peru exported 10,491 tons of citrus in the last week. This is 23% less volume than in the previous week, but 29% more than in the same week…

The Lebanese fresh produce sector will be in the spotlight in the coming weeks

Last September, Piet Schotel of the Center for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) and Fresh Publishers manager, Pieter Boekhout, took a work trip to Moldova. They visited some 15 fruit growers in this small European country, wedged between Ukraine and Romania. You can read all about…

Valencian cooperatives Llutxent-Otos and La Pobla del Duc agree on their merger

On September 5, the Valencian cooperatives Camp de Llutxent-Otos and Vitivinícola La Pobla (La Pobla del Duc), both members of Anecoop, overwhelmingly agreed on their merger at their respective General Assembly meetings, with over 90% of votes in favor. The goal is to continue growing efficiently through…

"Spanish persimmons much better than last season, but mandarins are smaller, due to heat"

The Spanish persimmon season is about to begin at Sanllo. This trading and cultivation company specializes in citrus and exports its products worldwide. However, for several years, it has been increasingly looking toward the Belgian and Dutch markets. "The last persimmon season was dismal, so we expect a…

As Florida citrus is facing headwinds, US scientists are on the hunt for solutions

When Florida’s commissioner of agriculture, Wilton Simpson, took the stage at the annual Citrus Expo in Tampa, Florida, last month, the room full of farmers expected answers.…

EU interceptions of citrus shipments from South Africa with black spot have tripled

La Unió Llauradora has denounced that the number of interceptions of citrus fruits imported from South Africa to the EU with harmful organisms this year has tripled the number…

Nadorcott Protection (NCP) takes action to warn UK supermarkets about the sale of “Tango” mandarins

Nadorcott Protection (NCP), which owns the intellectual property (a UK Plant Breeders’ Right; UK PBR) covering the Nadorcott variety of mandarin, has contacted nine major…

Sicily getting ready to tackle the Huanglongbing threat

A meeting was held at CREA-OFA in Acireale (CT) ahead of the regional event on Huanglongbing (HLB), considering the serious threat that is looming over Sicilian citrus fruit. The bacteria in question, which causes the illness known as Citrus Greening, represents a serious threat for citrus fruit…

‘Egypt is largest exporter of citrus fruits in the world’

According to Egyptian Minister of Agriculture Al-Sayed el-Quseir, his nation ranks as the largest in the world where it comes to exporting citrus fruits. El-Quseir stressed…

South African citrus industry closes 2023 EU exports

The Citrus Growers’ Association of South Africa (CGA) and the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum (FPEF) announce the conclusion of South Africa's 2023 orange exports to Europe.…

Fujian Pinghe honey pomelo production reduced by about 10%-15%

Recently, Mr. Lai from Fujian Xiangxinglong Fruit and Vegetable Co., Ltd. shared his views with FreshPlaza on the market situation of Fujian honey pomelo this year. According to him, “Influenced by the climate in February and March this year, the fruit-bearing rate of pomelo this year is low, resulting in more…

Maf Roda has created a new and revolutionary software to analyze the quality of citrus fruits

Maf Roda will present great innovations in the next edition of Fruit Attraction 2023, focusing on two major lines of development that the company has been betting on for years: quality systems and automatic packaging robots. In recent years, the company has been working on making this task as simple as…

Collaborative and data-driven approach appeals to buyers of African products

South African strawberry exports by air to the Middle East and Malaysia have been doing well so far, says Elton Greeve, managing director of newly established SA Fruit Marketing (right).Last week, they signed an agreement with a Malagasy litchi supplier for their European campaign starting at the end of…

Average weighted price for oranges at €89 in the EU in week August

The average weighted price for oranges (in € per 100 kgs) stood at €89 in August; down €4 compared to last month. It is, however, still €13 higher than the weekly 5-year average. In Spain, the prices came out at €103 per 100 kgs in the last week of August, a €19 increase on the weekly 5-year average. Click here to…

Less South African citrus in Saudi Arabia this season

In normal times, a large share of the citrus fruit consumed in Saudi Arabia comes from South Africa. However, this season, with the supply shortages that have marked the season in South Africa, Saudi importers have had to adapt. Kashif Shahzad, supply chain manager at Global Star, a Saudi fresh produce…

World-first portside packhouse, cold store and container depot under one roof

At the end of its first season, KHOLD and the Lona Group have officially opened their Coega Fruit Terminal in the Coega Special Economic Zone outside Port Elizabeth. Kees van Welie, managing director of KHOLD, says that Coega Fruit Terminal is a world’s first through the scope of its integration: it…

The Banpeiyu is the fruit that connects Taiwan and Kumamoto

The banpeiyu holds the world record as the largest citrus fruit. Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture provides the bulk of Japan’s harvest, but the fruit is also popular in Taiwan,…

"It seems that the citrus harvest will be smaller, but the yield of marketable fruit may be higher"

The 2023/2024 Spanish citrus season will start soon with the first early mandarins. Purchases at origin have started earlier than usual in view of the forecast of a small production, even smaller in terms of volume than that of 2022/2023. "We are already getting ready for the new citrus campaign," said David…

Cartel situation prevents limes from being sourced in Michoacán

It has been a complicated season for Persian limes so far. First of all, hot weather has made it challenging to meet preferred specs like bigger size limes, as well as limes with a perfect color, and shape. “Although the quality of limes is down in all growing regions in Mexico, Cuitlahuac in Veracruz…

"Difficult South African citrus campaign due to increased problems with Blackspot"

The South African citrus campaign has been particularly challenging so far. "A lot of Blackspot has appeared in lemons and oranges in particular, due to rainfall during the flowering period. Across the range, we're also seeing a high proportion of large calibers. Small-caliber juice oranges, on the other…

Australian citrus growers concerned about shrinking orange industry

Australian citrus growers say short-term contracts for Valencia oranges, which are used to make juice, are unsustainable given the increasing cost of production. In the…

US importers comment on South African citrus program

“As we enter the month of September, just after the long weekend, almost 60% of citrus from South Africa has arrived in the US,” says Suhanra Conradie with Summer Citrus from South Africa (SCSA). The organization prides itself on weekly arrivals of fresh, sweet, and delicious citrus into the US. “The…

International retail teams in for a juicy adventure with Aussie Oranges

Staff at retailers across Asia are soon to undertake innovative training through a new platform being launched by Australian growers through Hort Innovation. The Aussie Oranges eLearning platform, developed under the horticulture trade banner Grown in Good Nature, takes about 10 minutes to complete.…

"Citrus acreage has increased more than usual"

Egyptian growers, exporters, and authorities are actively preparing for the upcoming citrus season. The acreage under cultivation has increased considerably, according to professional sources, amid growing demand. Ibrahim Gadallah, business development manager of Janafresh, told FreshPlaza, "Egyptian citrus…

Pakistan agri sector plans to boost citrus production

Provincial Minister for Agriculture, Energy, Industries, Commerce, Investment and Skill Development S.M. Tanveer has stated that the government is devising a strategy to boost…

EU monthly lemon imports at 79.656 tons in August

2022/23 EU monthly lemon imports reached 79.656 tons in August, 2023 down slightly from the number of 84.747 tons of the month before. As far as EU monthly grapefruit imports for August went, the number came in at 11,419 tons. Click here to view the full data sheet. Source: agriculture.ec.europa.eu

Taiwan's agricultural losses from Typhoon Haikui cross NT$250-million line

According to preliminary figures from the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), agricultural losses from Typhoon Haikui reached an estimated NT$258 million (US$8.09 million) and may…

"Extra early citrus won't benefit from them, but these rains will help improve the size of the next varieties"

The long-awaited rainfall has arrived to the fields of the Region of Valencia, although in the form of a DANA (upper-level isolated depression) which, according to Carles Peris, general secretary of La Unió Llauradora i Ramadera, has been quite uneven within the region. "There are areas which have…

The most dangerous vector of HLB, the most devastating citrus disease, has been detected in Europe

The Mediterranean and the EU remain the only major citrus production area free of the Huanglongbing or HLB, also known as greening or yellow dragon disease, the most devastating citrus disease is caused by the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter. Now, however, there are two threats to this status. On the…

Peruvians can’t afford their national dish as El Niño causes lime prices to rise

As the El Niño weather pattern affects harvests and causes food price inflation, many Peruvians can no longer afford to cook their national dish, ceviche. The reason? Heavy…

Brazilian orange juice inventories levels concern agents

Agents in the global citrus market have been concerned about two recent events: Hurricane Idalia, which hit Florida in late August and the release of orange juice inventories…

Clemenules recorded the clementines' lowest average price in the beginning of the campaign

A few weeks ago, the Union de Uniones de Agricultores y Ganaderos estimated that the citrus harvest for the 2023-2024 campaign would remain below 5.8 million tons - also below…

Basin plan should be reached without more buybacks

Citrus Australia is deeply concerned about the impacts of a buyback strategy announced for the Murray Darling Basin. Australian Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya…

Texas growers rebounding from 2021 freeze

Texas growers appear to be back on track after Winter Storm Uri caused significant setbacks to many groves in February 2021, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension…

Tight supplies of lemons & oranges expected as South Africa exits early

Citrus exports from South Africa will end significantly earlier this year, with as much as four to five weeks in certain areas, as the size of the export crop became clearer over months. The Valencia export estimate has been reduced by another million cartons to 48.4 million 15 kg cartons, which is 6…

Could Hurricane Idalia impact the Southeast veg market?

Though reports are early and growers will likely know more this week, there are some accounts of loss and damage following Hurricane Idalia in the Southeast. Neil Mazal of East Coast Farms & Vegetables says in Valdosta, Georgia, and slightly west of Valdosta, there are indications of some damage. “There…

Hurricane Idalia pushes US orange juice prices to record highs

Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall in the US on 30th August, has caused concern for Florida's orange production. The unfolding impact of this hurricane is visible in the…

Senator Scott plans to introduce disaster relief package

With Hurricane Idalia impacting Florida this week, US Senator Scott has said he will introduce a disaster relief package in the days to come. Scott offered some of the details…

USDA

Preliminary on-tree value of 2022-2023 Florida citrus crop 61 percent less than 2021-2022

This publication represents the results of the most recent annual Commercial Citrus Inventory survey of Florida citrus trees. Results of the annual Commercial Citrus Inventory show total citrus acreage is 332,256 acres, down 11 percent from the last annual survey. The net loss of 43,046 acres is 11,000…

Citrus is certainly taking root in Georgia

Citrus is a new crop for Georgia, one that’s taking root thanks to the combined forces of climate change, crop science and - unfortunately - disease in Florida. Although that…

Drastic lack of Sicilian lemons

"For Sicilian lemons, it has been a complicated year with little produce available, so much so that we have remained deeply dissatisfied," reports Salvo Magliocco, manager of Cooperativa PASAM Agrumi in Syracuse (Sicily), specializing in the production and commercialization of femminello lemons holding the organic and Demeter…

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW LEMONS

The mood on the global market for lemons is generally optimistic, with the exception of those countries suffering from increasingly volatile weather conditions. In the Netherlands, the lemon market remains stable, exhibiting positive growth after a temporary lull in demand linked to moderate weather conditions. Belgium, on the…

Cara Cara oranges coming off peak import supplies

There looks to be a greater amount of some imported specialty citrus this year. “Weather issues in the Southern hemisphere countries like Chile were more prominent last year and this year they’re having a better growing season,” says Michael Giordano of Consalo Family Farms®. The team from Consalo Family…

California and Arizona citrus projects funded

The California and Arizona departments of agriculture received funding for four citrus-related projects from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) for 2023.…

Finally, a potentially more upbeat California lemon season after many unfavorable years

California lemon production traditionally sees a lull during late July and the month of August. Production picks up as the season transitions into District 3 (desert region) around late August to early September. However, this year, the start of District 3 is behind schedule and most of the region is…

Warning of a new whitefly that attacks citrus fruits in France

The Unió Llauradora has reported the presence in southern France of a new species of whitefly not present in our agriculture: Alerucanthus spiniferus (Quaintance), which is attacking 102 plant species, including citrus fruits, and is also extremely voracious. "This quarantine pest, detected in June in French…

Orange juice stockpiles drop to record low in top exporter Brazil

The stockpiles of orange juice in Brazil, the world’s top exporter, have reached the lowest in twelve years. This means a global shortage might be looming, as Florida’s production declines as well as facing a disconcerting hurricane season. Brazil reached the end of its season in June with 84,745 tons of…

Pioneering study reveals the power of floral strips in citrus orchards

In its aim to improve sustainable food production and ecosystem services through ecological intensification, IVIA has participated in a three-year study that has just been…

Maharashtra sweet lime production might drop this year

The Marathwada region of Maharashtra saw insufficient rainfall so far this year. This, combined with dried-up soil, a rise in temperature and infection in fruits, might result…

Orange juice price forecast as Hurricane Idalia nears

Data by TradingView shows that orange juice prices jumped to $3.20 on Tuesday, a few points below the year-to-date high of $3.31. It has soared by more than 60% from the lowest level this year. The biggest catalyst for orange juice prices is the unfolding Hurricane Idalia. Some forecasts claim the…

"The harvest of the new lemon season will kick off in just a few weeks"

Already in July, AILIMPO confirmed in its first estimate of the Fino lemon harvest for the next 2023/2024 season that the production of this variety will record a significant increase, of up to 30%, compared to the 2022/2023 campaign. And although the size of the harvest still depends on the weather,…

Georgia's warming climate has growers turn to growing citrus

The freeze that occurred last January was a big test for Georgia’s developing citrus industry, which is taking root thanks to the combined forces of climate change, crop science and disease in Florida. There were very few citrus trees in Georgia a decade ago. Now, there are more than 500,000 trees across…

Citrus grower prepares for new California season

While wrapping up its 130th season, Sunkist is focusing on the return of the California citrus season. With a grower base of over 1,000 members and a portfolio of conventional and organic citrus offerings, Sunkist is allocating additional resources to its category management and consumer insights…

USDA

Fresh lemon production estimates revised down 6.5 percent

For marketing year (MY) 2022/23, fresh lemon production estimates have been revised to 1.65 million metric tons (MMT), down 6.5 percent from the official USDA estimate due to continued adverse weather and poor economic conditions, especially for smaller producers. Fresh orange production is estimated at…

Invaio achieves first registration for citrus greening solution featuring Trecise technology

Invaio Sciences, a bio platform company accelerating the leap to nature-positive agriculture, today announced that its Citrus Health solution to suppress citrus greening in…

US: The status of Citrus Canker in Georgia

Citrus canker was found for the first time in Georgia this past season. Unfortunately, it may be here to stay. Jonathan Oliver, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor…

"Trade in Asia has been maturing, especially with regards to sales channels and packaging"

At Capespan the focus is to deliver high-quality produce and build strong relationships with their customers in Asia. Asia has always been a big focus for the company, but never more so than in the past decade. "We still view it as developing market with unlimited potential for growth and strategic…

Beneficiaries of the Zebediela Citrus Estate call on police to arrest arsonists

Beneficiaries of the Zebediela Citrus Estate in Limpopo have called on the police to arrest perpetrators behind the spate of fires at the multi-million rand estate. Three fire…

'South African fruit exports to Iran might recommence'

South Africa could re-establish citrus exports to Iran following last week’s news at the conclusion of the BRICS Summit. During this event, six newcomers have been added to…

Natural soil bacterium may provide treatment for citrus scourge Huanglongbing

Scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) may have found a potential remedy for the untreatable disease that has devastated the American citrus industry since it…

Pricing picking up on limes

There is slightly less volume on limes coming out of Mexico right now. “Because of the heat that we experienced this summer in the growing regions, it is a little bit less volume than in other years as we’re a couple of weeks into the new crop,” says Cassidy Baker of Earth Source. “We haven’t seen many reports of bloom drops…

Mexican government sends 1,200 more troops to Michoacan state to combat cartels

After a weekend of violence, the Mexican government said Monday it sent 1,200 more troops to the cartel-dominated western state of Michoacan. Three convenience stores and five…

Orange and mandarin purchases starting earlier this year with higher prices

The first estimates made ahead of the start of the 2023-2024 campaign by producer organizations such as the Unión de Uniones in different areas of Spain point to a slight drop in the volumes compared to the previous season, when they were already at their lowest in the last 7 years. Last winter's adverse…

“It is vital to deliver to retailers and the consumer at a consistently promised quality"

The Clemengold brand is well known on the Asian markets, this year sees the 10th Anniversary of the launch in Asia and 20 years of the ClemenGold brand. The fruit is now present in Bangladesh, India, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indo, Singapore, Cambodia. "Our fruit is marketed on the wholesale market as…

"Citrus production and export won't be affected by the latest rains"

The ASOEX Citrus Committee has stated that the latest rains brought by the recent frontal system that affected the central-southern area of the country won't affect citrus…

The Algarve is running out of oranges

The Algarve is responsible for 90% of Portugal’s orange production; orange trees need a lot of water (much more than avocados, for example) and with the drought, this has…

Doubling down on CRISPR research

We have all been waiting (and waiting some more) for new varieties to be developed that are resistant to HLB. Ten years ago, researchers thought they were really close to having new HLB-resistant…

Argentina establishes the labeling of containers containing citrus with quarantine treatment

In order to continue strengthening the traceability of citrus that can host fruit flies, the National Agri-Food Health and Quality Service (Senasa) established that the…

Brazilian orange production at risk due to increased outbreaks of greening disease

Orange production in Brazil is at risk due to citrus greening spreading. Producers rush to get ahead of the outbreak. A study published by Fundecitrus showed a 56% growth of…

Extortion and threats against lime growers return to west Mexico

The kind of mass threats and extortion of lime growers in the west of Mexico - that sparked a civilian vigilante uprising some ten years ago - have returned. One lime grower…

'Lemon is the healthiest fruit in the world'

According to a study by the University of New Jersey in the US, the lemon is the healthiest fruit in the world. Lemon stands out among 41 food options analyzed, showing that…

Turkish heatwave delays start of lemon season slightly

Lemons will be kicking off the Turkish citrus season. According to Coskun Eren of Turkish produce exporter Eren, the start of the lemon season is still a couple of weeks away: “Our first item of the citrus season will be the Meyer lemons. The product is almost ready for harvest, we expect the export…

The EU's orange imports from South Africa increased in July

In a new report on Enhanced Monitoring of Citrus Imports by the EU, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food updated the figures recorded up to the month of July. Regarding oranges, in the 2022/23 season, a total of 893,236 tons were imported between September and July; this is 42.2% more than…

Texas citrus growers appear to be back on track

Texas citrus growers appear to be back on track after Winter Storm Uri caused significant setbacks to many growers two seasons ago. Before Winter Storm Uri delivered week-long…

"This might be one of the best campaigns of the last ten years"

According to José Vicente Andreu, the president of Asaja-Alicante, the outlook for Alicante's citrus fruits is more than encouraging. Everything indicates that the main…

Chilean citrus harvest impacted by intense rain and flooding

Chile’s fruit industry was yet again hit by very high rainfall of between 50 mm to 150 mm, that has caused a fresh round of flooding and a delay in mandarin and lemon harvesting. Snow high in the Andes mountains point to a frost that’s on the way, posing a coming risk of frost damage to fruit trees and…

Tunisian citrus production in Nabeul expected to drop by 20%

According to the president of the local agricultural union in Béni Khaled, Béchir Aounallah, citrus yields in the governorate of Nabeul are expected to drop by 20% compared to…

Canadian grower and marketer expands international presence Down Under

Oppy is strengthening its international presence by forging relationships with Australian citrus growers, aided by Richard Byllaardt and David Stevens, Oppy’s newly designated field agents for the land Down Under. "We are pleased to be on the ground, helping Oppy establish new relationships," Byllaardt…

"We are in the process of expanding our export business out of Queensland

Te Mata Exports was founded in 2000 by Murray Tait with the MG Group taking a 50% shareholding in 2012. The NZ business has predominantly been an exporter of NZ apples and cherries however there was always the intention to develop an international trading business. In December 2019 Sarah McCormack was…

"We are currently the only ones to offer the Coscia pear on the wholesale market"

The Coscia pear also known as "Etna pear" because it is grown near the famous volcano, is characterized by its small shape as well as by its intense flavor, Raffaele Scirillo of Irpinia Frucht GmbH at the Berlin wholesale market tells us. "The special thing about Coscia pears is that they turn out much…

Update on Citrus Greening in Georgia groves

Citrus greening disease is no longer just a problem in residential trees in Georgia. For the first time last year, citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing or HLB, was…

Citrus Australia monitors pomelo risk analysis

Citrus Australia is closely monitoring a biosecurity import risk analysis being conducted on fresh pomelo fruit from Vietnam. The Australian Department of Agriculture,…

Sicily worried for citrus huanglongbing and black spot diseases

"The negotiations regarding the regulation of geographical indications (GIs) in Europe, with Italian MEP Paolo De Castro as a speaker, are proceeding apace, and there is cause for optimism that there are many points of agreement with other EU countries on important issues such as the protection of GIs…

Despite bumper yield, lemon farmers in Bangladesh are facing losses

Farmer and orchard owners in Moulvibazar are counting their losses despite a bumper harvest due to various reasons including low prices and a lack of cold storage. The price…

"Unbalanced large/small supply ratio on orange market"

A calm citrus demand is typical in August, says Eddy Kreukniet of Exsa Europe. "Many people are on vacation, and then consumption drops, despite promotions. It hasn't been more or less than other years, though," he begins. Recent citrus imports from South Africa have left something to be desired due to…

The next Bergamot orange campaign is at risk: 80% of the produce has been destroyed

The next bergamot orange campaign is at risk as fruits have been largely destroyed by the abnormal temperatures in July, characterized by muggy heat and temperatures reaching 50°C. All of this has led Regione Calabria to request the recognition of a natural disaster. The groves, already put to the test…