Following this month's Hurricane Milton in Florida, the grapefruit supply will be tighter this season. "Although it will impact supply in the industry, we expect to have a good supply of grapefruit this season," says Steven Callaham of the Dundee Citrus Growers. "We have outdoor groves that were located not directly in the path of the storm."
That said, Dundee Citrus Growers' citrus under protective screens (C.U.P.S.) groves were directly impacted by the hurricane, though the trees and the crop were unharmed. "The eating quality of grapefruit is excellent with no impacts on the fruit at all from the hurricane," says Callaham, adding that overall, the crop is smaller this year with fruit sizing smaller. In turn, he's encouraging customers to be flexible with fruit specifications this season.
Dundee Citrus Growers began packing grapefruit a few weeks ago and is into steady supply now. "We didn't really pick ahead of the hurricanes. When you're in the path of a hurricane, you typically lose electricity. So you can harvest fruit before the storm but if you're out of electricity for a week or two afterward, there's nothing you can do," says Callaham. "We have generators, so anything that was in our cold storage facilities, we were able to power those facilities with those backup generators and keep up shipments."
Grapefruit supply expectations
Fruit is expected to be available into March.
Demand, to no surprise, is strong as a result of lower supply. "Demand is exceeding supply at this point across the range of sizes. There's a feeling that there will be ongoing stronger demand throughout the season," says Callaham, adding that peak supply of Florida grapefruit often coincides with peak demand for grapefruit during winter's cold and flu season.
This is leaving pricing stronger than this time last year. "That's a direct reflection of supply and demand," comments Callaham. "The industry as a whole has lost quite a bit of volume so production per acre this season will be down. It will probably be impossible to make up for the loss and volume with pricing but we are asking a little more for the fruit this year to help offset some of it."
For more information:
Steven Callaham
Dundee Citrus Growers
Tel: +1 (863) 439-1574
[email protected]
http://dun-d.com/