Cyprus enjoys one of the healthiest climates in the world with a pollution-free atmosphere and plentiful sunshine. These weather conditions in the right balance can produce ideal results for the citrus crop.

This season the Cyprus sun has combined with suitable rainfall levels and growers are harvesting another pleasing crop, similar in volume to last season. Consistency is welcome news for the industry players after a series of setbacks prior to 2001.

According to evaluations by the Produce Inspection Service of the Cypriot Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism the season will meet requirements volume-wise. The estimated export quantities make good reading. Between 8,000-9,000 tonnes of lemons, 18,000-20,000t of grapefruit, 14,000-15,000t of Valencia oranges and 22,000-24,000t of Mandora oranges are to be distributed around the globe. It is also expected that small quantities of Nova and Ellendale, bitter oranges and sweet oranges will be sold overseas. In total over 70,000t of Cyprus citrus are lined up for export markets.

Ioannis Shekeris, commercial controller at the Cyprus High Commission Trade Centre in London, is confident that early indications show that this season can be every good as the last. He said: “We have had a good start to the 2003 season, the quality of the fruit is pleasing and we believe that we can build on the success of last year.”

Last season's exports commenced in the first fortnight of October 2002 and were completed during the first fortnight of May 2003. In this period 70,702t of citrus was exported compared with 71,706t during 2001-02.

Grapefruit growers will be looking to build upon the success of 12 months ago. 21,981t of grapefruit were exported, compared to 19,382t in the previous season. Valencia late oranges fell, but only slightly to 14,021t compared to 14,281t in 2001-02. Although the volume of Mandora oranges fell to 23,806t from 26,112t the previous year, this was still a hefty increase on the 2000-01 season when the results were 18,841t.

According to Shekeris, Europe, and the UK in particular, is an important customer for Cypriot citrus. He says: “The EU nations accounted for 64.3 per cent of exports and the UK is a major customer, with 27.7 per cent of this figure coming to these shores, Germany is the next biggest customer taking 11.4 per cent.”

Cypriot citrus is now on the right track compared to five years ago. In the three seasons prior to 2001-02 export levels for citrus were at 63,747t in 1998-99, 64,558t in 1999-2000 and 62,575t in 2000-01.

Although in Cyprus, agriculture has a diminishing share of gross domestic product it remains one of the country's economic successes and Shekeris feels this is due to a number of factors. He says: “The sector has been boosted by ongoing developments all along the supply chain. There has been a greater focus on the use of refrigerated containers, and citrus has benefited from this. There has also been investment in quality assurance facilities at ports, both air and sea. Additional strength has come from ongoing investment in infrastructure, particularly modern post-harvest facilities.”

Shekeris also feels that there has been an updating of product portfolio. He says: “The Agricultural Research Institute has been instrumental in successfully introducing a raft of new varieties for export. There has been an updating of product portfolio, with the emphasis on new easy peelers.”

The country's biggest competition comes from Spain and Morocco, but Shekeris feels that the favourable weather conditions have helped to improve the position of the country in the citrus market. He says: “To some extent expansion was due to a larger national harvest following favourable weather, which resulted in high yields of good quality fruit.”

Achilleas Lapourides, managing director of LFS, which is connected to Lanitis Farms, is confident for this winter. “The conducive weather conditions in Cyprus this winter mean the crop has seen a lot of rain and we're expecting an increase in crop volume of 10-15 per cent.”

With water shortages often causing headaches in Cyprus in the past, good growing conditions are crucial to the success of the industry. Lapourides says: “Good weather is of vital importance to the quality of the produce. Although, this season we have also witnessed the additional bonus of having new orchards coming into production.”

Mark Edgley, commercial manager for citrus at Chingford Fruits, is also pleased with the growing conditions seen this year. He says: “We're hoping to continue the success of recent seasons. It should be another good year for grapefruit. The sizing and quality seen in the early grapefruit crop is exactly as we had hoped for and good volumes are expected.

Edgley visited the plantations at the beginning of the month and was pleased with the early indications. “The fruit is clean and eats very well,” he says.

Chingford works very closely with Sainsbury's. This year the supermarket is paying close attention to promoting the fruit. He says: “Sainsbury's is running a promotion this season and it has an important role to play. The store is focusing on pushing grapefruit forwards, and although in the build up to Christmas it is likely that the soft citrus, such as satsumas and clementines, is in the driving seat. Come the post-Christmas period the demand for grapefruit begins to rise rapidly.”

He adds: “Large fruit is available but it will not be available in large quantities. The Valencia Nucellar variety is proving popular and it has a good shelf-life.”

Lapourides believes the Nucellar variety has a bright future. He says: “Lanitis Farms is the only grower that produces the Nucellar. The variety has been in existence for 10 years but is growing in popularity.”

Cyprus is also looking to continue to expand its development into organic production. Shekeris says: The area under organic management has been growing by 80 per cent annually and last year it amounted to 2,300 hectares. Citrus has a big role to play in this. The UK is the largest importer at the moment, though Germany, Austria and the Scandinavian nations are fast gaining in prominence.”

Lapourides says that there is plenty of trialing taking place of new varieties. He says: “We are constantly trialing and experimenting with new varieties. We are working on new types of easy peelers, which are very popular. We are also always trying to find ways of extending our season wherever possible.”

When Edgley visited Cyprus he noticed that trialing was taking place on various Mandarin varieties and also noticed small plantations of clementines. However, he does not expect these to reach the UK. He says: “The clementines are most likely to stay in Cyprus rather than be exported.”

When Cyprus joins the EU next year Lapourides feels that there will be little change for them. He says: “We have already made changes in preparation and to trade with European nations we had to have our house in order already. Lanitis Farms already has EurepGAP accreditation. We like to stay ahead of the game and be prepared.”

Edgley also believes that on the surface there will be little difference on Cyprus joining the EU, as the country understands the working of the union. He says: “Cyprus already has a deal where there is no duty charge on grapefruit, so I see that it will have a marginal affect on the businesses.”

Shekeris says that the positive stance taken by the government has proved a boost to business in preparation for the country impending membership to the EU. “The government has issued grubbing grants, removed surplus production from the market and put forward incentives for setting up producer organisations,” he says. “Additional aid has also been provided for product marketed under the Cypria national brand name and logo. These measures are intended to strengthen both the profile and positioning of Cyprus as it heads towards EU accession in May 2004.”

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