North American citrus is in peak season out of states such as California, Florida, and Texas. "Domestic citrus dominates the market with excellent weather conditions and strong prospects for both volume and quality," said Alejandro Moralejo, CEO of Salix Fruits. "This year, domestic fruit supply is abundant, with high volumes and very competitive prices."
At the same time, on imported citrus, limes are coming from Mexico and Colombia. "Mexico is also supplying Valencia oranges and juice oranges, while Morocco is arriving on the East Coast with the last mandarins of the season," said Moralejo, adding that right now one of the biggest challenges is understanding the import costs for agricultural products coming from abroad. "It's important to highlight that the increasing or changing tariff for imported produce creates additional pressure on pricing and market dynamics."
Pricing remains variable
As for pricing, given the high volume available, prices are currently below average across most citrus categories. "However, this remains highly variable, depending on supply fluctuations and shifts in demand," said Moralejo.
The next few weeks will be crucial in determining price levels for the first Southern Hemisphere citrus shipments. By May, early mandarins from Peru and Chile will begin arriving, followed by lemons from Argentina and Chile. Meanwhile, Chilean and South African oranges are expected to reach ports by late June or early July.
As for the end of the domestic season, it is highly influenced by weather conditions and market demand. "If there are no significant climate issues, such as high temperatures in the coming weeks or excessive rainfall, the season is expected to follow an average timeline for sweet citrus, with a strong supply of lemons," said Moralejo.
For more information:
Salix Fruits
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