The first shipments of Orri Jaffa mandarins from Israel are already on the way to expected markets for the 2024 season. Yield and export volumes are the similar to the previous year according to Orna Inbar, sales and promotions specialist at Israel’s Plants Production and Marketing Board.
The initial estimation is 80,000 tons from January to May, with good big size selections. Orri Jaffa consumers prefer big size mandarins. The potential on the trees is of this big sizes says Inbar.
Marketing companies intend to export a similar quantity to last season to traditional Orri Jaffa markets of North America, Western Europe as well as open opportunities to the Far East.
Picking and shipments of first Orri Jaffa started last week and season mainly to Europe, where markets were relatively empty of citrus from the Southern Hemisphere. There are also lower estimates from Spain.
"Orri Jaffa reputation and market conditions encourage first small quantities to be air shipped to north America. The currency rates of Euro and the US$ to the Israel’s Shekel (NIS) are in exporters' favor allowing marketing companies to prioritize export to preferred markets," says Inbar.
Growers' challenges this season increased due to war situation. The major threat these days is manpower shortage. Nevertheless, this matter is to be solved by the ministry of Agriculture, as well as with support of hundreds of volunteers to bridge the gap of needs towards the high season.
First fruits are already in the markets (France, Canada) with good demand and excellent quality concludes Inbar.
For more information:
Orna Inbar
Plants Production and Marketing Board
Email: [email protected]
www.plants.org.il