The kaki marketing season starts with cautious optimism. "This year, we expect a normal crop similar to previous seasons, although we have already experienced some losses from hailstorms in early September and remain at risk from future storms," stated Fernando Martí of Morondo, a company specializing in kaki production and marketing.
© Morondo
"We've had an unusually hot start to September, which has delayed the start of the season by about a week. The absence of the usual nocturnal thermal inversion this month has slowed fruit colouring. However, we're optimistic and expect to begin with steady volumes this week."
"This year, we anticipate excellent overall quality, with medium-sized fruit mainly dominating, thanks to the decreased presence of pests like thrips, cotonet, and whitefly."
© Morondo
When it comes to the market, "This is the season with the highest prices at source ever. We need to maintain profitable prices at the start of the chain for kakis to cover the costs of field treatments, production, and labor. This is essential to ensure the profitability of all the links in the chain of this Valencian product and to prevent it from disappearing.
"The positive aspect is that we are observing a growing interest among consumers to shift from stone fruit to other autumn products, such as kakis. In fact, both European and international markets, as well as supermarkets, are already showing strong interest in importing Spanish kakis. Additionally, it appears that this year's lower supply of early citrus will help kaki prices stay stable during this early part of the season," Fernando added.
© Morondo
Morondo, with over 30 years of experience in growing and selling kaki, remains deeply committed to this fruit, which is so closely associated with the Valencia Region. The company also prioritizes professionalism and efficiency in every stage of its production process. This year, it has incorporated a new state-of-the-art optical calibrator that helps maximize precision and improve fruit classification. "In this sector, we need to become more professional in every aspect if we want to keep growing and stay competitive. With this new machinery, we're aiming for the highest possible efficiency, which translates into better results for our clients and growers," Fernando stated.
The Kaki Gastronomic Competition is returning
Kaki can be used in salads, custard, or be the main ingredient in a Valencian rice dish, as demonstrated in previous editions of the Kaki Gastronomy Competition organized by Morondo.
Kaki is a very versatile fruit. It will once again be the star of this event, which was suspended last year due to the DANA, but that will be held again on November 8th this year.
"At Morondo, we remain committed to promoting kakis in the national market, and this year, we will once again host the Kaki Gastronomic Competition," comments Fernando Martí. "It's a contest where participants create recipes using kaki, which are then tasted and judged to determine the winner of the edition. Kaki consumption is well established in our country, but there is still significant room for growth, especially among young people."
"Our goal with this Gastronomic Competition is to demonstrate that kaki is not just fresh fruit but can be incorporated into a wide variety of preparations." Registrations are open until one week prior to the event, and participants can collect the kakis from the company's facilities to create their recipes.
Fruit Attraction
Every year, Morondo takes part in Fruit Attraction at the Spanish Kaki Association booth, located in Hall 3C14. "For us, this fair is a key platform to showcase the potential of a product that aims to strengthen its presence both in the domestic market and in the main European and international destinations. For this reason, we will be there once again this year with one of the star fruits of the Valencia Region."
For more information:
Morondo
Sector Industrial I-1 PM 2-3
46814 La Granja de la Costera, Valencia (España)
Email: [email protected]
www.morondo.es