North American importers are approaching the new Southern Hemisphere citrus season with some caution in view of the fact that California is anticipating another significant navel orange crop this year, according to industry pundits.
Arrivals from the Southern Hemisphere could be pushed back from their usual summer window if the California deal extends well into the summer months, like last year.
“The big question in everyone’s minds is just how long California fruit will remain on the market this year,” Miles Fraser-Jones of AMC Direct told Americafruit.
“If it’s anything like last year, it will be a challenge for all concerned”.
Last season California navel oranges remained on the market until early August – long past the usual end to the season – clogging distribution channels and affecting prices.
According to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), nearly 746,000 tonnes of citrus were imported into the US during 2012 – 11 per cent more than the year before and 24 per cent above the total for 2008.
The 2013 Southern Hemisphere citrus import season kicks off with Peruvian clementines in May, followed by arrivals from Chile, South Africa and Australia.
The full report, including supply country forecasts, will be published in the April/May issue of Americafruit.
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