Weather problems in Spain have enabled MTEX, the Israeli grower/exporter group to export lemons to the UK for the first time in a decade.
The firm will be sending 60 pallets of the fruit - mainly of the Eureka variety - into the UK in the next four weeks, both loose and pre-packed - to compensate for the shortage of supply from Spain and other sources.
Ramie Hessel at MTEX in Israel told the Journal: “We have an excellent crop of lemons this year and although the window is limited, we will be able to fulfill part of the UK demand.
“I don’t think, however, that our lemons have big long-term potential in the UK. As soon as the other sources recover, it is difficult for us to compete on both the uniformity of appearance of the lemons and on price.”
There has been increased demand throughout Europe for the Israeli lemons and Hessel is confident that this year’s experience with the MTEX Eureka, which he said has a superior flavour, will encourage buyers in Europe to expand their programmes in the coming seasons.
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