Jaffa Suntina, the first of Israel's easy peel varieties, arrived in the UK last week. Mehadrin Tnuport Export (MTEX), Israel's leading citrus producer, will market the fruit two weeks earlier than last season. The fruit is expected to appear in UK retail outlets from December 22.
Peak volumes will run from mid-January to mid-February with final volumes expected to last until the beginning of March. This year a total of 240,000 cartons will be shipped to the UK and sold through MTEX UK office, this represents a 10 per cent increase on volumes last year. Overall MTEX accounts for around 80 per cent of all Suntina produced in Israel.
The Jaffa Suntina characteristically has a very deep orange skin, very high juice content and a high sugar acid ratio giving a distinctive and strong flavour. Another characteristic is that the fruit has a very good shelf life. The majority of UK retailers will be selling the fruit as a premium easy peel line.
Dov Warmen, managing director of MTEX UK office commented: “Jaffa Suntina is a variety that delivers outstanding eating characteristics and is the first of our easy peel varieties. The Jaffa Suntina along with the Jaffa Or and Jaffa Mor represent an important part of our strategy of growing volumes of high quality easy peel varieties available for the post Christmas period.”
MTEX has been at the forefront of developing Suntina, first planted in the coastal regions and in the northern Negev 12 years ago as a response to demand.
Approximately 95 per cent of the fruit sold in the UK will be sold pre-pack, most of which will carry the famous Jaffa brand, adding to its appeal.
The Jaffa Suntina, which is virtually seedless, is a hybrid mandarin - the result of a cross between the Fina clementine and the Orlando tangelo (itself a Duncan grapefruit and Dancy tangerine).
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