Citrus producers in Valencia have this week reached an agreement to leave smaller sized fruit on trees during this year's harvest in a bid to maintain prices throughout the course of the campaign.

The agreement, which was finalised at Intercitrus’ annual assembly, is aimed at eliminating poorer quality oranges and mandarins from the region’s citrus offer this season.

Intercitrus president Antonio Muñoz told Fruitnet that the strategy would allow exporters to avoid the fall in citrus prices in European markets that the sector normally experiences during November and December, largely as a result of an oversupply of fruit.

Despite the cautious move by exporters, overall citrus volumes are expected to increase nationally by more than 20 per cent, marking a significant improvement from last season’s poor harvest.

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