http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/07/2892895.htm

Big orange returns for Riverland growers

Posted May 7, 2010 09:47:00


Bigger oranges this season - file photo (Fiona Poole)

A smaller citrus crop in South Australia due to some extreme heat late last year looks like being offset by the size of the fruit.

Kym Thiel from Citrus Australia says navelina and washington oranges are the biggest they have been in years.

The washingtons are almost nine millimetres larger than anything recorded in the past 17 years.

Mr Thiel says it is good for growers in the domestic market and for exports.

"Predominantly the US does like large fruit. Some of our South East Asia customers do prefer the smaller count range so it'll be a matter of balancing out where some customers actually receive fruit larger than what they do prefer. Some fruit out there certainly is actually too big," he said.

"Hopefully growers can receive some pretty good returns for that large fruit.

"Fruit generally tastes very, very good this year, it's got high sugar levels so we're hoping for a good season."