Citrus fruit harvest to increase this season

Barcelona (Gastroteca.cat).- The Catalan citrus season is expected to produce more fruit this season, but it is still too soon to predict a price drop for the crop. The citrus harvest is located primarily in the area of Terres de l’Ebre, where the majority of the fruit will then be exported and sold in countries such as Germany.

The Alcanar municipality produces half of all citrus fruit in Catalonia. Federico Tarazona of the Cooperativa Exportadora d'Agris d'Alcanar explained: “We start harvesting in November but there is a 10 to 15 day delay, which means less time to commercialise. We expect 10% more fruit than last season, which will be good, though the prices will not be so good”.

Price drops are a result of factors such as an increase in offer, economic crisis and the increasing Internet sales trend that widens markets but lowers prices. The majority of the citrus harvest this season will be clementines, a variety of the mandarin orange. Clementines constitute 85% of citrus production in Catalonia, or 130 million kilos. Sources indicate that citrus harvests will increase from 25 to 30% this season.

Catalan clementines are primarily produced for export. Josep Estrada of Tortosa’s Cooperativa Agrícola Soldebre said: "Our clementines are very appreciated throughout Europe not just because of their taste, but for their capacity to be transported and long-lastingness. But unfortunately there are zones that harvest them too early and colour them with ethylene. This is bad for everyone because when the fruit looks good but tastes bad you don’t want to buy it anymore. Our clementines are optimal…Germany has set conditions for quality and health for the fruit”. Catalan clementines are part of the Indicació Geogràfica Protegida Terres de l'Ebre, an area certified for its quality of products, including the fina, hernandia, and clemenula varieties.

Curiously, European and North American markets have the tendency to label Catalan citrus fruits as being from “Northern Valencia” to categorize them with the Castelló region. But citrus geography fundamentally depends on latitude. Catalonia, and specifically the Ebre region, has the adequate conditions for mandarin and orange harvesting. There are 12,000 hectares for citrus harvesting in Catalonia, a stable number as the decrease in cultivation by retired farmers is compensated by investments made in larger farms.