The Interprofessional of Lemon and Grapefruit of Spain has also requested “the application of ethylene in citrus” in organic production “because unlike what happens in other fruits or vegetables, does not induce ripening but only to change the color of the skin”.
Both comments have been submitted as part of the consultation period that the European Commission has opened on the draft regulation authorizing products and substances to be used in organic production.
The Interprofessional Association of Lemon and Grapefruit of Spain (AILIMPO) has submitted a proposal to the European Union for the food industry BIO products to replace the use of citric acid (E-330) by organic lemon juice “for being a totally effective and natural alternative“. The proposal has been presented by AILIMPO in the framework of the consultation period that the European Commission has opened on the Draft Implementing Regulation authorizing certain products and substances for use in organic production and establishing their lists.
(Photo: Zumo)
“We have requested the elimination of the authorization of this substance (citric acid E-330) as a preservative in food additives because it is perfectly substitutable in the processes by organic lemon juice whose main component is natural citric acid, whose production in Europe fully guarantees its availability “, said from AILIMPO, while recalling that Spain is a community leader in production and processing of lemon.
AILIMPO, in favor of using ethylene in organic citrus
In addition, AILIMPO has also submitted an observation to be able to use ethylene. The draft regulation establishes an important limitation for its use in organic citrus. This substance is used so that, once the internal maturity of the fruit is reached, the skin changes its green color to the characteristic color of the species and variety. This process is called degreening.
Since its use is restricted to organic citrus as part of a fruit fly prevention strategy, it could not be used for degreening. However, “the application of ethylene in citrus, unlike what happens in other fruits or vegetables, does not induce ripening but only to change the color of the skin,” clarified from AILIMPO whose position is not to limit the use of ethylene in organic citrus.
“AILIMPO has an important commitment to sustainability as is being made visible through the Welcome to the Lemon Age campaign,” they remind. The organic production of lemon and grapefruit has great relevance in its activity, hence the involvement of interprofessional in defending the interests of this sector. Therefore, AILIMPO has already moved this position also to the European organization FRESHFEL EUROPE, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the citrus Autonomous Communities, and the Councils of Organic Agriculture involved in order that their contributions to this draft implementing regulation take into account the considerations of the sector.
Below are the links to AILIMPO’s contributions to the public consultation of the Regulation.
About AILIMPO AILIMPO is a national interprofessional, based in Murcia, officially recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain and the European Commission, which represents the economic interests of producers, cooperatives, exporters and processors of lemon and grapefruit in Spain, a sector in which Spain is a world leader in fresh exports and ranks second in the ranking of processing countries, with an annual turnover of 700 million euros, generating 20,000 direct jobs and a turnover in ancillary industries of more than 250 million euros.
All Oranges 45.0 Million Boxes
The 2017-2018 Florida all orange forecast released today by the USDA Agricultural Statistics Board is 45.0 million boxes, unchanged from the March forecast. The total includes of 19.0 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason, and Navel varieties) and 26.0 million boxes of Valencia oranges.
Non-Valencia Oranges 19.0 Million Boxes
The forecast of non-Valencia production is unchanged at 19.0 million boxes. The Row Count survey conducted March 27-28, 2018, showed 99 percent of the early-midseason rows are harvested. Estimated utilization for non-Valencia oranges to April 1, with an allocation for non-certified fruit, is 18.9 million boxes. The Navel forecast, included in the non-Valencia portion of the forecast, remains at 500 thousand boxes, 3 percent of the non-Valencia total.
Valencia Oranges 26.0 Million Boxes
The forecast of Valencia production is unchanged at 26.0 million boxes. Final fruit size is below average, requiring 236 pieces to fill a 90-pound box. Final droppage is above the maximum. The Row Count survey conducted March 27-28, 2018 showed 38 percent of the Valencia rows are harvested.
All Grapefruit 4.00 Million Boxes
The forecast of all grapefruit production is lowered 650 thousand boxes to 4.00 million boxes. The white grapefruit forecast is lowered 100 thousand boxes to 750 thousand boxes. The red grapefruit forecast is lowered 550 thousand boxes to 3.25 million boxes.
Estimated utilization to April 1, with an allocation for non-certified use, of white grapefruit is 715 thousand boxes and of red grapefruit is 3.22 million boxes. The Row Count survey conducted March 27-28, 2018, indicated 94 percent of the red grapefruit rows and 92 percent of the white grapefruit rows are harvested.
Tangerines and Tangelos 770 Thousand Boxes
The forecast for the tangerine and tangelo production is lowered 110 thousand boxes to 770 thousand boxes. If realized, this production level will be 52 percent less than last season’s production. This forecast number includes all certified tangerine and tangelo varieties…
Please download the full citrus crop production forecast: www.nass.usda.gov
Turkey produced 4.3 million MT of citrus, including orange, lemon, mandarin, and grapefruit in MY 2016/17.
Turkey is the eighth ranked country in the world for citrus production with a 2.7 percent share. Citrus production in Turkey is 63 percent above the amount that is consumed domestically.
Turkish producers have started to search for new varieties from the other leading citrus producing countries in order to improve domestic production and capture new export markets.
Approximately half of the total citrus production is exported, with an export value of $880 million. Top export destinations are Russia and Iraq, followed by Ukraine.
Turkish citrus exporters would prefer more diversified export markets to avoid complications from any political tensions.
The 2017-2018 Florida all orange forecast released today by the USDA Agricultural Statistics Board is 46.0 million boxes, down 4.00 million boxes from the November forecast. If realized, this forecast will be 33 percent less than last season’s production and the least since the 1944-1945 season of 42.2 million boxes. The forecast consists of 19.0 million boxes of the non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason, and Navel varieties) and 27.0 million boxes of the Valencia oranges. Regression data used are from the 2007-2008 through 2016-2017 seasons. For those previous 10 seasons, the December forecast has deviated from final production by an average of 6 percent, with 8 seasons above and 2 below, with differences ranging from 16 percent below to 16 percent above. All references to “average”, “minimum”, and “maximum” refer to the previous 10 seasons unless noted.
Non-Valencia Oranges 19.0 Million Boxes
The forecast of non-Valencia production is lowered 2.00 million boxes to 19.0 million boxes. Current fruit size is below average and projected to be below average at harvest. Current droppage is above the maximum and is projected to be above the maximum until harvest. The Navel forecast, included in the non-Valencia forecast, is lowered to 500 thousand boxes, and is 3 percent of the non-Valencia total. Final Navel size is below average and droppage is well above the maximum.
Valencia Oranges 27.0 Million Boxes
The forecast of Valencia production is reduced 2.00 million boxes to 27.0 million boxes. If realized, this will be the smallest Florida Valencia crop since the 1949-1950 season. Current fruit size is below average and is projected to be below average at harvest. Current droppage is above the maximum and projected to be above the maximum at harvest.
All Grapefruit 4.65 Million Boxes
The forecast of all grapefruit production is unchanged at 4.65 million boxes. If realized, this forecast will be 40 percent less than last season’s production and the least recorded since the 1918-1919 season. The white grapefruit forecast is unchanged at 850 thousand boxes. The red grapefruit forecast is unchanged at 3.80 million boxes. Projected fruit size of white grapefruit at harvest is above average while projected droppage is above the maximum. Projected fruit size of red grapefruit at harvest is projected to be above average and droppage is projected to be above the maximum.
Please download the full citrus crop production forecast: www.nass.usda.gov
All Oranges 50.0 Million Boxes
The 2017-2018 Florida all orange forecast released by the USDA Agricultural Statistics Board is 50.0 million boxes, down
4.00 million boxes from the October forecast. If realized, this forecast will be 27 percent less than last season’s production and the least since the 1945-1946 season of 49.0 million boxes. The forecast consists of 21.0 million boxes of the non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason, and Navel varieties) and 29.0 million boxes of the Valencia oranges. Regression data used are from the 2007-2008 through 2016-2017 seasons. For those previous 10 seasons, the November forecast has deviated from final production by an average of 7 percent, with 8 seasons above and 2 below, with differences ranging from 9 percent below to 19 percent above. All references to “average”, “minimum”, and “maximum” refer to the previous 10 seasons unless noted.
Non-Valencia Oranges 21.0 Million Boxes
The forecast of non-Valencia production is lowered 2.00 million boxes to 21.0 million boxes. Current fruit size is below average and projected to be below average at harvest. Current droppage is above the maximum and is projected to be above the maximum until harvest. The Navel forecast, included in the non-Valencia forecast, is unchanged at 600 thousand boxes, and is 3 percent of the non-Valencia total. Current Navel size is above the maximum, and droppage is above the maximum.
Valencia Oranges 29.0 Million Boxes
The forecast of Valencia production is reduced 2.00 million boxes to 29.0 million boxes. Current fruit size is below average and is projected to be below average at harvest. Current droppage is above the maximum and projected to be above the maximum at harvest.
All Grapefruit 4.65 Million Boxes
The forecast of all grapefruit production is lowered 250 thousand boxes to 4.65 million boxes. If realized, this forecast will be 40 percent less than last season’s production and the least since the 1918-1919 season of 3.50 million boxes. The white grapefruit forecast is lowered 50 thousand boxes to 850 thousand. The red grapefruit forecast is lowered 200 thousand boxes and is now at 3.80 million boxes. Projected fruit size of white grapefruit at harvest is below average while projected droppage is above the maximum. Projected fruit size of red grapefruit at harvest is projected to be above average and projected droppage is projected to be above the maximum.
Tangerines and Tangelos 950 Thousand Boxes
The forecast for the tangerine and tangelos is reduced 50 thousand boxes to 950 thousand, 41 percent less than last season’s production. This forecast number includes all certified tangerine and tangelo varieties.
Please download the full citrus crop production forecast: www.nass.usda.gov
All major citrus growing regions in Florida were indeed affected by Hurricane Irma which devastated our state for more than 24 hours September 10th and 11th. At this time there are no precise reports giving an accurate measure of the full impact. Please keep this in mind as you read and hear those that are surfacing.
RC Treatt continues to provide contingency for the US operation should it be required, however the good news for our customers is that Treatt USA are already back up and running. We are also happy to remind our customers that we source raw materials from all over the globe, and operate in this manner to provide the best possible quality and service, continuity of supply, and risk mitigation.
Unfortunately we cannot yet say with any certainty exactly how much of Florida’s orange and grapefruit crops were lost or how many trees have been damaged. We do know there will be a reduction in the crop, which was previously forecasted to increase for the first time in five years. We have heard losses for oranges as low as 30 % and up to 80 %. Only time will tell. We anticipate the crop now being somewhere in the neighborhood of 40-55 million boxes, a huge decrease from last season’s 68.7 million boxes.
While we certainly appreciate everyone’s anxiety over the crops, we also recognize that our Florida growers have not only groves to rebuild but also lives, and we offer heartfelt sympathies to these men and women who have an unbelievable amount of drive and resilience.
We must also consider that Mexico was hit by not only Hurricane Katia, which will have an impact on both grapefruit and orange crops, but also with an incredibly strong earthquake measuring 8.2 on the Richter scale. Damages from these natural disasters are also still being assessed.
The 2016-2017 Florida all orange forecast released by the USDA Agricultural Statistics Board is up 200,000 boxes from last month, and is now at 68.7 million boxes. The total comprises 33.0 million boxes of non-Valencia oranges (early, midseason, and Navel varieties), unchanged from last month, and 35.7 million boxes of Valencia oranges, up 200,000 boxes from last month.
The forecast of all Florida grapefruit production is unchanged at 7.80 million boxes. Of the total grapefruit forecast, 1.50 million boxes are white and 6.30 million boxes are the red varieties. The Florida all tangerine and tangelo forecast remains at 1.62 million boxes.
The forecast includes 600,000 boxes of the early tangerines (Fallglo and Sunburst), 210,000 boxes of Royal tangerines, 530,000 thousand boxes of Honey tangerines, and 280,000 boxes of tangelos. The Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice (FCOJ) yields as reported by the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), Report No. 39, for the period ending July 1, 2017, at 42 °Brix are: all oranges at 1.416618 gallons per box, late (Valencia) portion at 1.536500 gallons, and non-Valencia oranges at 1.336596 gallons.
Please download the full citrus crop production forecast: www.nass.usda.gov
