In W43 in the lemon and lime landscape, Argentina sent its first shipment of organic citrus fruits, specifically 60.5 tons of lemons, to the European Union (EU) after a 20-year hiatus. This marks a positive development for Argentina's organic citrus production. The EU market reopened in May, following the acceptance of Argentina's proposal to use post-harvest treatment with sodium bicarbonate for citrus shipments. This move is expected to benefit Argentina's organic orange and lemon cultivation, which currently spans 3,342 hectares.
In Adana, Turkey, despite a high lemon yield, a lack of demand led to the price decline. The Mayer lemon harvest, taking place in one of Turkey's major agricultural centers, Adana, started in September and was initially sold for USD 0.14-0.18/kg (TRY 4-5/kg). The price of Mayer lemons in the orchards plummeted to USD 0.018 kilogram (TRY 0.50/kg), prompting some farmers to uproot their lemon trees while the fruit was still on the branches. The oversupply issue has left many farmers in a challenging situation, with support from the Support and Price Stabilization Fund being sought. A significant portion of the lemons in the 150 thousand decare area in Adana has been removed, and the situation remains difficult for farmers as they struggle to sell their produce.
The Interprofessional Association of Lemon and Grapefruit of Spain (Ailimpo) is taking steps to enhance transparency in the citrus plant material sector. This involves acquiring accurate and verified information about new lemon and grapefruit varieties to prevent issues arising from the lack of reliable data. Ailimpo believes that breeders of varieties should provide producers with precise information about the agronomic behavior and characteristics of new varieties. Furthermore, they urge public authorities to take action to protect the interests of citrus growers. Ailimpo is working on initiatives involving the conduct of agronomic trials and monitoring future European Union regulations related to the production and commercialization of citrus plant material.
Lastly, Spanish citrus growers are experiencing an increase in grower prices this season, which is an improvement over previous years. Although the harvest is slightly larger than the previous season, it is still 14.4% below the five-year average. While there will be fewer oranges, lemon production is returning to normal levels. The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture expects a yield of 1.17 million tons, which is 28% more than last year. The transition of citrus supply from the southern hemisphere has been smooth, with little overlap with Spanish fruit.