Lemon sector: Citrus year looks complicated

“The citrus year is looking complicated. Neither the market nor the weather were supportive during the campaign, so the drop in production is significant,” stated José Carbonell, a citrus producer, in an interview with Chacra Agro Continental. He noted that the campaign began this month and predicted it would end between late August and early September. He said the forecasts are discouraging, as estimates are between 10% and 15% below the average for campaigns in recent years. “The campaign began exporting fresh fruit with fairly reasonable prices to Eastern Europe, Russia, and Ukraine, partly because Turkey withdrew due to severe frosts and because production in Spain fell. The US has not yet begun placing orders, but we expect it to begin in May,” he said. On the economic front, he noted that the situation is not easy because a 10% retention tax is in effect, which was not in effect last year. "The negative impact on the sector ...