"In a campaign very much marked by the high levels of alternaria, a variety that is resistant to this disease has reached the market, bringing a qualitative leap for the trade, and becoming also a serious option for the producers wanting to avoid this disease," said José López Pérez, representative in Spain of the Valley Gold variety from the company Citricom.
"This year, 80% of the Valley Gold volume was harvested before January 15, 2023, due to a shortage of first season fruit and severe problems with alternaria in the country, which caused traders to look for alternatives," says José López.
"The Valley Gold is a variety resistant to alternaria. The fruit changes color during the first days of December, which makes it possible to harvest it from December 20 and to fill an interesting commercial gap," he says.
Photo taken at a Valley Gold farm in Valencia on 12/20/2022.
One of the characteristics of the Valley Gold variety is that "it can be left for a long time on the tree without it falling, preserving both its internal and external quality. Despite this, our strategy is to put this variety on the market between the last days of December and the first 15 days of January," says José López.
"Currently, there is a large area devoted to plantations of second season varieties and they have yet to reach their peak in terms of production, so I think that, in the coming years, we could see an excess of fruit of these varieties. That's where the Valley Gold comes in: as an alternative variety to fill the gap between first season and second season varieties, coinciding with Christmas," says José López.
"A very important aspect to take into account regarding this variety is the high percentage of Class 1 fruit. This season, 92% of the total was Class 1 and 5% was Class 2. And that with calibers 1-2 and without the need for thinning," said the Valley Gold representative.
"These qualities make the Valley Gold worth it for the grower, given the sorting by classes, as well as the cost savings in the variety's management. This year, some transaction have been carried out for more than 0.70€ per kilo," says José López.
Following the agreement reached between Citricom and the Valencian company Copal for the development and promotion of the Valley Gold variety, a talk was held on March 23 in the Valencian town of Algemesí, organized by Copal. José López was present at the event to outline the characteristics of this variety to the cooperative's members, as well as the conditions for its members.
"The area allowed to be planted with the variety in Spain will be limited in order to protect the profitability of those who choose it", said José López.
For more information:
José López Pérez
CITRICOM
M: +34 627797358
[email protected]
www.citricom.co.za/es