Florida grapefruit production is likely to increase by 8.5 per cent this season on last according to forecasts just released by the US department of agriculture .
The latest figures indicate a likely crop of 42 million boxes ñ 17m of white and 25m of pigmented varieties ñ making it the second smallest crop since the big freeze of 1989-90.
Fruit sizes are anticipated to be larger than average for white fruit but smaller than last season, whereas pink and red fruit is likely to be slightly above average at harvest. However, some parts of Florida have also experienced unseasonably heavy rainfall and shippers will have to take great care that fruit is not packed too damp.
The UK is eagerly awaiting the start of the Florida season in the coming weeks as grapefruit supply has been tight for several months. "They are inheriting a fantastic market," said Martin Dunnett of Capespan which has been supplying South African fruit over the summer. "Availability has been very tight."
Although most fruit sold in the UK is brought in to programmes with retailers, wholesale markets have seen prices soar as high as 1,200p a carton for pigmented fruit in recent weeks.
According to Colin Blake of importer Fesa, the start of the Cuban season has not eased the problems much. "The Cuban season has been curtailed by poor weather and they have had a lot of rain which limits picking to just three to four hours a day. Three weeks ago a lot of South African fruit seemed to come out onto the market, but that has gone now and Cuba can't fill the void alone. Quality on the Conchita brand we handle, however, is near superb this year."
Fesa will soon be supplying Turkish and Cypriot fruit and will be bringing fruit from Cyprus packed this week overland from northern Italy in order to get it to market as soon as possible.
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