Nova heads up Plus Berries’ new citrus campaign

Huelva’s Plus Berries has officially launched its 2025/26 citrus campaign with the start of the Nova mandarin harvest. The company said its goal is to maximise quality in a year that has presented specific climatic challenges during the fruit’s development cycle.

According to Ioana Daniela Paucian, the company’s citrus production technician, spring rains coincided with the flowering and fruit set phases, which naturally regulated the fruit load on the trees. “This factor has resulted in a more controlled production volume compared to previous years, allowing us to focus its efforts on the selection and care of the existing fruit,” the company said.

Plus Berries has 56ha of citrus production, of which the Nova mandarin accounts for 22ha. Once the mandarin season is over, the company will continue with the harvest of Barnfield Navels – expected to begin at the end of February – followed by the Valencia Midnight variety at the end of March.

“ terms of pest and disease, the season is being carried out under strict technical supervision due to the presence of common issues in the area, such as mealybugs,” the company said, adding that its production team has focused its strategy on “monitoring and controlling farms, optimising available resources to mitigate the effects of these pests and ensure that the fruit reaches the market meeting the required standards”.

“The Nova mandarin remains our star variety due to its excellent post-harvest characteristics. From the consumer’s perspective, the variety stands out for its resilience, retaining its properties intact for two weeks after purchase, thus guaranteeing a high-quality consumption experience.”