"Now that the Christmas holidays are over, the season of the much sought-after red oranges has begun, as planned. In this area, the Moro and Tarocco varieties of the Nucellare, Gallo and Lempso cultivars are particularly in demand," says Giovanni Scavo, sales manager of the Sicilian company Il Girasole Soc. Coop.
"Given that we are currently at the height of the harvesting season, there is no shortage of orders from all the distribution channels. Indeed, among the citrus varieties on the market, there are always some on special offer. These promotions are mainly concentrated on small and medium-sized crops, which is also because the current campaign is characterised by larger quantities of small pieces, following the very long drought that Sicily suffered in 2024."
"Orders for citrus fruit from the food service sector, led by agri-food wholesalers, are less significant than those from traditional destinations, but they are still significant and always play an important role, especially for premium products; we are talking about exclusive, large-sized oranges packed in the classic double-layer packaging. In short, a production for which we can obtain attractive prices."
"As for the future of the orange campaign," says Giovanni Scavo, "as always, we would need a crystal ball, because labour shortages and climate change are major concerns for every operator in the sector. The climate, in particular, has accustomed us to long periods of extreme drought and rainfall with strong winds. The infamous hurricanes in the Mediterranean are a major concern for the sector. The latest nefarious event hit us hard on 17 January, preventing the harvest for a few days and making the year even more difficult. We are talking about a fast-developing Afro-Mediterranean cyclone called Gabri, which hit the regions of southern Italy, particularly Sicily and Calabria."
"At the moment, it is pointless to talk about losses of 30 or 40 per cent: the damage is clearly there, but it is up to each of the operators in the chain to do their part. Producers and packers have the burden of selection, and hopefully the distributors will ensure that producers and consumers are guaranteed as much as possible, despite the reduction in purchasing power. It is essential to promote the national product, which, as we all know, guarantees traceability and wholesomeness, as well as its excellent taste, which makes our citrus fruits suitable both for eating and for extracting juice. On the other hand, there is a small note to be said about internal pigmentation. This is due to the large temperature fluctuations and can therefore vary from year to year, depending on the temperature and, more generally, the weather conditions."
For more information:
Il Girasole Soc. Coop.
Via Francesco Petrarca, 51
95047 Paternò (CT) - Italy
(+39) 095 623381
Giovanni Scavo (+39) 337 950 732
Serena Scavo (+39) 3474242478
info@ilgirasolearance.com
www.ilgirasolearance.com