The Satsuma mandarin crop out of California looks to be starting strong this year. "The quality is as good as we've seen it in years. It's a vintage year," says Jacob Labogin of Fruition Sales- Ripe to you® adding that the quality of the stem and leaf Satsumas, a program it specializes in, is also strong. "The fruit set is a little bit more than last year but the quality is night and day. The pack-outs are going to be much higher because we're not seeing any thrip this year so more fruit in the box for sure."
Harvest had been on track to start a week or two earlier this year. "The heat kind of put a halt on that but with the cooler weather coming in in the next few weeks, the color might pop and we might get back on track," says Labogin, noting that the heat though has strengthened the fruit's flavor profile. Harvest will begin at the end of October and should finish by the first of January.
Milton and mandarin demand
As for demand, demand is anticipated to be good for the fruit. "The demand will be there. We're seeing it in stores right now that people are buying citrus," says Labogin, adding that depending on how and if Hurricane Milton affects the East Coast citrus crop, that could strengthen demand for California fruit.
Meanwhile pricing on Satsumas is going down on the retail end–however, pricing in production is staying the same.
For more information:
Jacob Labogin
Fruition Sales- Ripe to you
Tel: +1 (559) 626-7917
[email protected]
https://ripetoyou.com/