"Unless it rains again, we expect to be working and selling clementines throughout January," says Gianni Martucci of Martucci Srl, an Apulian company that distributes citrus fruit in Italy and certain parts of Europe. There have been no major fluctuations in recent weeks, but compared to the same period last year, prices have risen by at least €0.10/kg. The recent rains have damaged much of the crop, particularly in other clementine-growing areas. We are making a very careful selection, even if it means higher prices. We have to make sure that we deliver a perfect product to our customers. There have been no complaints so far."
Clementine processing - warehouse in Massafra (Taranto)
Smaller sizes than expected, due to the summer weather and water problems, are the sore point of the current campaign, to the extent that the companies are re-evaluating the volumes to be exported and the areas to be supplied.
"There is a large mass of gauge III and IV," continues Martucci, "we are taking back all the product that, until recently, other operators did not want because the sizes were too small. We are also taking back very small quantities of gauge V. However, we can afford to do so because we are working with European markets that also buy and prefer, at naturally different prices, medium-sized fruit, which in Italy does not find a suitable income or is not accepted at all."
The Martucci company sends considerable quantities of clementines to Poland, Hungary, and France. "We ship an average of 35 pallets a day, with up to 52 at peak times. Our customers are well aware of the difficulties in the field and of what the orchards have to offer us this year. The demand is very high for the Christmas period, but we have been able to fulfill most of the orders."
For more information:
Martucci Srl
74016 Massafra (TA) - Italy
Tel.: +39 338 2620262
[email protected]
martucci.info