The Spanish citrus campaign is already entering its final stretch. In general, producers have achieved good prices this year and it's been harder for businesses to obtain profits. The mandarin campaign is almost over. Orange sales are hard because of its high price in the field, and the Verna lemon is expected to be shorter.
“It's a delicate moment for orange sales. Prices in the field have been very high because of the significant drop in production. In addition, processing and transport costs have increased,” stated Sergio Orobal, the manager of Catman Fresh, based in Pilar de la Horadada, Alicante. “It's hard to defend orange prices that compensate for these costs, especially when they have to compete against the Egyptian, Greek, or Moroccan offer, among other third-party origins,” he added.
The orange harvest is so low that this year the Alicante-based company is already finishing receiving supplies from Seville and Cordoba. Last year, the supplies were available until the end of July. According to Sergio Orobal, “the drop in yields has been mainly due to the prolonged drought. The cold front of January and February and the heat strokes in March affected the production's quality. We are finishing collecting and storing the Navel Powel in Murcia and in the Valencian Community while starting the harvest of Valencia Midknight and Valencia Late.”
“We expect the outlook for orange sales will improve from mid-May, as Egypt withdraws from the market. The first containers of South Africa's early orange are expected to start entering in early June, but there won't be a consistent offer from this origin until late June,” he stated.
The company ended its mandarin campaign last week with the last batches of Orri and Murcott and achieved generally adjusted margins because of the high price in the field, though with fewer complications than with oranges.
Meanwhile, the last stocks of Fino lemon are coming to an end now that the focus is on the Verna campaign, which is expected, to yield low volumes once again. “Overseas lemon is expected to be available from mid-May,” stated Sergio Orobal.
Good quality prospects for the stone fruit campaign
Catman Fresh will start its stone fruit campaign, which is mainly sourced from Murcia and Badajoz, in about a week. “We expect a production with normal peach, nectarine, and donut peach volumes in Murcia. The harvest in Murcia will start with a 7 to 10-day delay due to the prolonged cold between January and the beginning of March. Fortunately, the good weather there was after this period allowed the fruits to achieve a very good quality,” Sergio Orobal stated.
“Only apricot volumes will fall (by about 30%) due to frost and heat strokes during flowering. Badajoz's production will decrease by 30 to 40% in the month of May. We start working with this production area in June. The fruit has very good calibers and Brix levels.”
Catman Fresh team poses with Ximo Puig, the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, after being awarded the Leading Company Award for its Business Trajectory in the Fruit and Vegetable Sector at the VI edition of the Valencian Community Awards organized by La Razón.
For more information:
Sergio Orobal
Catman Fresh
Camino de Iryda, s/n
03190 Pilar de la Horadada (Alicante)
T: +34 966 747 902
[email protected]
www.catmanfresh.com