Exports of Sicilian red-fleshed oranges to the UK have risen considerably this year, according to one of the region’s leading exporters Oranfrizer, which has itself seen its sales more than double compared with the previous season.
And with shipments of the fruit to the British market continuing into June, the current campaign is certainly one of the longest ever for Sicilian citrus.
Key to that extended success, says Oranfrizer chief executive Nello Alba, has been a change in strategy that has seen the group's growers plant a larger proportion of fruit for harvesting later in the season.
“We have planned the harvest so that we have plenty of top-quality citrus fruit available that can reach and sustain the high quality standards required,” he explains. “From the start to the end of the season we can now sell in Italy as well as exporting fruit that has a greater appeal for consumers.”
Consumers in the UK are apparently warming to the idea of red-fleshed oranges, with Italy seen as a particularly strong supplier when it comes to quality, Alba notes.
“In the UK, we recorded a 55 per cent increase in sales,” confirms Oranfrizer export manager Sara Grasso. “This growth accompanies the innovative supplier award we received earlier this year from Marks & Spencer, which they presented to us for having supplied the market with various new types of unique and special citrus from Sicily, in particular Tarocco.”
She adds: “British consumers will even be able to buy these retail prize-winning Tarocco red oranges in June.”
