While not the focal point it was a decade ago, the US will continue to be a valuable market for Australian citrus exports this season, Mildura Fruit Company's general manager has said.
As new competitors emerge and younger generations of US consumers move away from more traditional varieties such as Tangelos, Hill noted that Australian exporters are increasingly gearing their US programmes around selected varieties.
“We have narrowed our window so we are not going head-to-head to any great extent with Chilean product,” Hill outlined. “There have been some promising opportunities for varieties like Afourer mandarins, which are also grown in the US and have a ready-made consumer base.”
With Californian citrus production volumes falling due to bouts of drought and frost, Hill says there is likely to be little domestic overhang in the US market this season, presenting an opportunity for early-season Australian navels.
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