The lemon harvest has already started in Murcia, the main producing area in Spain, where a lower production is expected compared to last season. Prices at the source are significantly higher than last year, and market prices are expected to reach very high levels from the end of the year onwards.
"Spanish Primofiori lemons will soon be arriving on the market as the harvest gets underway, and there is a great deal of uncertainty in the sector. While some organizations expect the production to drop by between 15 and 20%, others believe the total volume could fall by as much as 40%," says Antonio Carrión, assistant manager of the Murcian company Frutas Beri.
"It's clear that there will be a lemon shortage, but we don't really know to what extent and what the consequences will be," says Carrión. "At the moment, all the companies that produce and sell lemons have sufficient supply, but I believe that there could be a shortage between late December and late February. It will all depend on how sales are organized from the start of the season to ensure that enough lemons are available."
"Many of us are wondering how we will sell the lemons bought for high prices at the source and what will happen when there is a shortage," says Antonio Carrión. "I foresee a season with really high prices."
At the moment, there are plenty of South African lots available in the European market; however, according to Antonio Carrión, no significant overlap is expected with the start of the Spanish season. "In the last stage of the South African season, in which lemon prices have reached high levels, more goods have arrived due to the expectation that there was going to be less produce from Spain, although these batches will be consumed in a short period of time."
Frutas Beri has been exclusively devoted to lemon cultivation and marketing for more than 40 years, supplying between 50 and 60 million kilos a year to European supermarkets, including the United Kingdom.
Frutas Beri will be present as an exhibitor at the Fruit Attraction fair in Madrid from October 8 to 10. It will welcome visitors to stand 7E17A in Hall 7.
For more information:
Antonio Carrión
Frutas Beri
C. Mariano Rojas, 1
30130 Beniel, Murcia. Spain
[email protected]
frutasberi.com