As fruit growers around the world contemplate their new seasons, many admit it is tough out there in the orchards and vineyards
Disruption of established trade links and events like the war in the Middle East have narrowed opportunities for growers around the world.
Volumes of fruit, particularly citrus, are being shifted from one part of the world to another because, as one grower described it, you cannot suddenly turn off the taps at the gates of the orchards.
Once the fruit trees and vines have been planted, it is the expectation that they will continue to deliver their crops for 20 years or more.
In addition to trade disruption, climate change is also something producers must contend with, and what we today regard as excellent fruit growing regions may disappear in future.
Growers are normally a very resilient bunch and over decades have proven that they do not only survive, but also find unique new ways of meeting these challenges.
These are however uncertain times and growers will admit that it is hard to stay positive.
It is not only these outside influences that are affecting the best laid plans.
The next steps, in some cases, is countries trying to protect their own growers by introducing measures to keep foreign supplies out.
This has been happening for decades, but after years of trade being freed up, we may well be heading backwards.
Most recently it has been reported that Egyptian exporters are not finding the Chinese market for citrus as lucrative as they first thought.
“As a result, Egyptian citrus exporters are increasingly looking to shift supplies, to established markets like Europe, to emerging markets in Africa, and to newer markets like North and South America,” one exporter reported.
“Since our business was founded, East Asia has been the main market,” they continued. “From the beginning of the conflict in the Middle East, especially due to the issues in Dubai, we’ve had to shift our focus to the West.
”We’ve established a presence in Canada and Latin America. We’re pushing a little bit more in Africa as well.”
European sources have also raised the issue of over-supplied citrus markets in Europe and these are signs that the world’s fruit trades may well have to deal with different scenarios in future.
Through it all growers will have to stay in the saddle and ride their horses as best they can.
It is certain that they will find solutions for many problems facing them now and continue to grow to the benefit of consumers around the world.
