All Lemon, the quality assurance seal that audits 16 export members in Argentina, has announced a significant downturn in its export volumes this year.
As the 2014 season draws to a close, All Lemon’s president Romain Corneille predicted that exports would fall by over 45 per cent in comparison to 2013. He said this was largely due to severe winter frosts that hit groves in Tucumán during 2013, followed by an intense drought in spring.
Despite the decline, Corneille said the alliance had not wavered in its pledge to provide only superior quality lemons from the South American nation.
“In total, approximately 145,000 tonnes of lemons will be exported in 2014,” Corneille explained. “We have taken the greatest of care to deliver the best product to all of the markets that we have taken the effort to develop in recent years. Through a continued emphasis on quality, All Lemon has managed to attract many new customers, especially in emerging and very demanding markets, such as the Middle East and Asia.”
Corneille said All Lemon continued to monitor quality levels on a daily basis at the 18 packhouses used by its 16 members. During peak production periods, up to 50,000 units of lemons were inspected each week.
All Lemon is also developing a promotional campaign that will take place towards the end of the 2014. The campaign will use several interactive online initiatives and social media channels to highlight the ways lemons can be used on a daily basis. The activities will continue on a year-round basis.
