"The increase in lemon plantings will be reflected in the harvests of the next 5 years"

Last week, the Verna lemon campaign came to a close with rising prices (between 0.40 and 0.50 €/kg).

According to Ailimpo, the low percentage of fruit with good commercial characteristics has resulted in a shortage of commercial lemons in this final stretch of the Verna campaign. At the same time, customers have extended their Spanish lemon programs for two weeks while the European market is being supplied with lemons from overseas.

The South African supply remains dominant in the markets; however, due to freight delays in northern European ports, there have been fewer arrivals this week. Some volumes of Argentinian lemons supplement the supply, but only in limited quantities, due to phytosanitary requirements.

Also, according to Ailimpo, the demand for lemons remains disappointing compared to last season, even though the tension caused by freight delays has resulted in a slight increase in the demand for South African lemons, putting pressure on prices.

"With the end of the campaign, it is time to take stock of a season marked by the record harvest of Primofiori and Verna lemons and the increase in the percentage of discards, which has ranged between 20% and 30% on average, and which has led to a record volume of lemons being sent to the processing industry. The increase in plantings in the last few years will be reflected in the productions of the next 5 years," say sources from the interprofessional organization.

That is why it will be key for Spanish lemons to differentiate themselves through the Promotional Campaign www.thelemonage.eu, which is being financed with European funds and a regulated contribution from the sector.

"The first year of the campaign has concluded with a greater impact than expected," says Ailimpo.

All the information on the execution of year 1 of the promotional campaign is available at the following link:

https://www.ailimpo.com/extension-de-norma/