Spanish clementine producers in Castellon, Valencia, are anticipating a much improved crop this season, according to industry representatives, although cooler weather means harvesting is reportedly at least 10 days late compared with 2009/10.
A recovery in 2010/11 should enable exporters to make further strides in emerging overseas markets, which may be able to offer better prices than traditional European outlets.
In particular, easy peelers have been steadily increasing in popularity in North America over the last two decades, coinciding with the introduction of the clementine variety from Spain.
But due to the harvesting delay, the first arrivals of Clemenules on the US East Coast are not expected by the middle of November (week 46), with the early Marisol variety arriving at the beginning of the month.
There is also some speculation among importers that the first wave of heavy volume may miss the important Thanksgiving promotional period in the US.
Despite the setback, one importer told Fruitnet.com that Spanish fruit “should have excellent sizing – better than California – with ample 28s and 24s” and “great colour” as a result of the cool weather.
Spanish clementine exports to North America peaked in 2001 at more than 75,500 tonnes, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, before shrinking to just under 45,000 tonnes in 2009/10 due to growing competition from California.
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