"The markets are open to us; there's good demand. If we had more fruit, we could have supplied more citrus to Europe and the U.S.," Yonatan Meron, export manager at Israeli grower cooperative Granot Fresh, says, reflecting on the past citrus season.
That season was, however, not without its challenges. Following the events of Oct. 7, 2023, Granot Fresh has had to adapt to a new reality. The biggest challenge proved to be labor, which was already problematic but was exacerbated by the situation.
Yonatan: "Sweetie harvesting started just as the war began. That created a huge labor issue that haunted us throughout the year. Many of our workers couldn't come from the West Bank. Others came to help, but picking Orri's or Sweeties requires skill. That was challenging. We eventually made it, thanks to good cooperation, but at a higher cost to our growers."
Fewer Orri clementine exported
That challenge meant a partial loss of the Orri clementine crop. "Last season's harvest estimate was already lower than previous years for the entire Israeli citrus sector," says Yonathan. "In the end, there was about 35% less export volume because many growers didn't have enough people to pick the whole crop."
At the beginning of the season, that resulted in a good market for Orri clementines. Unlike previous years, the market was better in early January. In February, though, the market slumped to lower levels than in other years. Prices usually pick up from mid-March, but did not last season. Yonatan points to the growing Spanish volumes of Orri clementines as the cause. He, nevertheless, foresees a solid future for Israeli Orri clementines because of continued demand, especially in Europe and the U.S.
Grapefruit in less demand
Granot Fresh began exporting red grapefruit to Europe in late September and saw good demand until December. In the second half of the season, the focus was on the U.S. market, also with good results. Sweeties, a green, sweet grapefruit unique to Israel, faced more challenging exports. "Last season, Israel exported about 7,000 tons of Sweeties. In the previous season, it was about 10,000 tons. That's about 30% less, mainly due to quality problems and falling demand," explains Yonatan. Especially in Japan, where the Sweetie used to be popular, there is now about 30% less demand.
Well-prepared for climate change
According to Jakov Armon, Citrus Product Manager at Granot Fresh, climate change is another challenge. The company is readying itself by using recycled water for irrigation and placing protective netting over orchards. "We're prepared for this kind of situation and, so, we might be a little less affected," he concludes.
For more information:
Yonatan Meron
Granot Fresh
Tel: +972 52 6808805 (Israël)
[email protected]
www.granotfresh.com