The beginning of the current Greek lemon season was marked by harvesting ups and downs, but the new year finds the orchards in very good condition, according to Mr. Thymios Papakonstantinou, owner of the Greek lemon company Corinthian Lemons. "We have already moved past some production irregularities, and currently, there are plenty of Greek lemons. There will be more volumes available during January. Thanks to the beneficial December rainfalls, we are seeing more fruits becoming suitable for export day by day."
"Although most Greek lemons are gone by mid-May, we can extend our activity until the end of July. We have invested in a new Greek hybrid that ripens just as other growers leave the market. It's a cross between the local varieties Maglino and Karystino. Ten of the eleven hectares owned by our company are planted with such trees, which are already five years old and bearing good crops. In three to four years, they will reach their peak productivity, enabling us to take full advantage of the late market," Mr. Papakonstantinou says.
The Greek packer notes a significant increase in lemons compared to the previous season. "We see about 30% more lemons than last season. Most of them are clean, with flawless skin, and are full of juice. However, geographically speaking, this season's lemons fall into two quality categories. Lemons from the Korinthos area are of perfect quality, while lemons from Aigio show many skin defects due to citrus red mites. Growers there have not taken adequate protective measures. Prices in Aigio are cheaper compared to Korinthos, but there are significant losses during sorting."
"At the moment, we buy high-quality lemons at 0.55 euros/kg. There majority of lemons belong to size categories 4 and 5, ranging between 55 and 65 mm. Size 3 lemons are few, and they will remain minoritarian. The size profile is good for our sales to supermarket chains in Greece and the Balkan countries. We also supply Lidl, which distributes our fruits to more European countries, and they are all absolutely satisfied with the quality. There have been zero returns," Mr. Papakonstantinou says.
However, there are some challenges. "There is strong price competition from Turkish Meyer lemons. When price is the priority for buyers, we cannot compete with them. However, we know that the quality of these lemons has deteriorated significantly, and exporters are trying to get rid of them as quickly as possible."
For more information:
Thymios Papakonstantinou
Corinthian Lemons
Mob: +30 698 238 3359, +30 693 254 2110
Email: [email protected]
https://www.corinthianlemons.gr/