The Valencian citrus industry is looking forward to an “excellent season in terms of crop quality and volumes”, according to Maritina Hernández, the Valencian Minister of Agriculture.
Figures released today peg the 2008/09 crop at 3.95m tonnes, a figure which the region's Ministry of Agriculture claimed will allow the region to confidently supply markets with plentiful and top quality fruit.
“This season’s crop will guarantee Valencia’s presence in all markets throughout the entire campaign, especially from February onwards,” Ms Hernández said in a statement.
The rise in volumes is mainly due to growth in the late citrus category, while the production of other varieties, such as clementines, is expected to remain on a par with last season’s total.
Despite the good news, the Ministry said the marketing season is likely to be delayed by “a couple of weeks” in comparison to last year due to a slower rate of fruit maturation.
Ms Hernández also called for greater transparency and cooperation within the citrus sector in order to ensure normality on markets and prices in line with fruit quality.
According to data from Valencia’s regional fresh produce association AVA-ASAJA, last year’s Valencia citrus crop fell by more than 30 per cent year-on-year, a figure which amounted to a decrease in output of over 1m tonnes compared with the 2006/07 season.
Exports also fell by 13 per cent to 2.89m tonnes in 2007/08, compared with 3.32m tonnes during the previous campaign.
