Murcia-based grower-exporter business Gruventa has forecast a promising citrus season.

Group managing director Fermín Sánchez Navarro said: “Demand in central Europe will be very active... We also think that early varieties will see some very fluid commerical activity.”

He added that prospects for the season are very “promising” and that Gruventa is expecting a “positive” season.

Sánchez said: “In the citrus sector it is a top priority to maximise our international presence and consolidate exports to Russia and eastern European markets as well as open up new destinations such as the US and Asia.

“The citrus sector also has to face up to a host of challenges such as supply-chain concentration, more intense promotion of citrus and especially trying to boost communication and online marketing of the sector.”

According to estimates compiled by the agriculture department at the Murcia regional executive, citrus output is likely to be nearly 15 per cent down on last season at 654,983 tonnes. Low temperatures in the spring affected lemons - the mainstay of citrus in the region - in particular. As a result the department forecasts a 21 per cent drop in lemon output year on year.

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