The Israeli citrus season has started and for the first time, MTEX UK has airfreighted its pomelo into the UK for Tesco.
The first picking of early-ripening red pomelo, as well as Sweetie, red grapefruit and several varieties of early-ripening oranges and easy peelers began last week, from plantations in the Upper and Lower Galilee and the Negev.
The arrival by air of pomelo will be followed by further air shipments of satsumas, as MTEX looks to cash in on a short window of opportunity prior to Spanish availability.
As FPJ went to press, MTEX UK managing director Dov Warmen said first satsumas were due to arrive on Thursday of this week and he expects around 10 days of clear market before competing fruit begins to hit the UK shelves.
Israel’s citrus sector has forecast a fourth consecutive good export season, as it continues its fightback from a dreadful start to the new millennium.
Estimated volumes across all exporters could reach 160,000 tonnes, a 15 per cent year-on-year hike.
Warmen said MTEX is looking at a 25 per cent increase to its citrus exports, with red grapefruit, which will arrive in mid October, up by more than 30 per cent.
“We have invested heavily in red grapefruit because we believe in its potential, and the bigger volumes are a result of new plantations coming on stream,” he said. “UK consumers have discovered the attributes of red grapefruit in the last few years, as there has been less Florida pink fruit around.”
Although early indications are that exports to Europe of Floridian grapefruit will rise by 20 per cent this year, there is still uncertainty due to canker and the remainder of the hurricane season.
“We don’t know exactly what will happen yet from Florida this year, as everyone is still watching the hurricane season.
“But they are growers just like us and we hope nothing happens - how much can they suffer?” said Warmen.
