For 11 seasons, Apifood has made Portuguese leaf oranges one of its flagship products. Now, the Montalban-based company is expanding its horizons by introducing a range of leaf clementines. This diversification aligns well for two key reasons: "The Portuguese clementine is ideally positioned in the market after the end of the Corsican clementine season. It is also the same variety, celebrated for its exceptional taste. Portugal's unique terroir allows us to achieve these outstanding organoleptic qualities, much like our oranges," explains Jean-Michel Lassabe, managing partner of Apifood, who aims to double sales volume this year.
The company is also eyeing new opportunities with lemons: "The Algarve region is home to many Eureka lemon orchards. This variety is highly aromatic and has an excellent taste profile. Last year, we conducted a small trial with supermarkets, and we plan to scale up this initiative this year."
Strong Leadership in the Leaf Orange Market
Despite broadening its product range, Apifood's main focus remains on Portuguese leaf oranges: "We started in 2013 and have built strong relationships with our local partners. Thanks to sustained effort and significant investment, we are now among the market leaders." This success is underpinned by a commitment to quality and origin control: "We chose to prioritize origin and traceability from the outset. To this end, we invested in having a local Apifood representative working closely with our growers year-round, handpicking the best fruit from the orchards. She monitors ripeness, and packaging quality, and ensures that our standards and customer specifications are met. This hands-on approach gives us complete control over initial conditions, minimizing surprises at arrival. To maintain the highest standards, all our production is PGI-certified. These quality principles are encapsulated in our renowned brand, Agrumine."
A Promising Leaf Orange Season Ahead
The leaf orange season kicks off this week, launching a 7-month campaign featuring the Newhall and Lanelate varieties. "I just returned from Portugal, and the season looks promising in terms of volume. We anticipate a standard year with strong potential for both varieties. However, the Valencia Late shows the most significant variation in tonnage. Last year's overproduction led to a 50% drop in this year's crop due to the natural alternation cycle. On the bright side, our partners have new plantings in Portugal, which could increase our tonnage by 10% from these young orchards."
Smaller Sizes This Season
While the taste quality remains unchanged, this year's fruit sizes are smaller: "Like many regions, we have experienced a severe lack of rainfall, which has impacted the size development of the trees. We expect to market smaller sizes, such as 4s and 5s. We are hoping for some rain at the beginning of the harvest to yield a few larger sizes. Despite the size issue, the taste quality remains outstanding. Our Agrumine orange is known for its sweetness and high sugar content, well above 12 degrees Brix. It boasts distinctive organoleptic properties, delivering notable sweetness and a delightful aroma that makes it easily recognizable."
For more information:
Jean-Michel Lassabe
Apifood
Bâtiment administratif
Marché Gare
82030 Montauban
Tel: +33 5 63 20 22 50
apifood.com