Harvest decrease of 10% due to citrus canker

Difficult season for Florida grapefruit expected

Tholen - Importers expect a difficult season for Florida grapefruit. Because of citrus canker there is a smaller volume available for export to Europe. USDA, the American department of agriculture, has estimated the harvest at 25 million cartons. Last year the harvest amounted to 27,5 million cartons. Moreover, the high oil prices have increased the transport costs with 25% and will make the grapefruit more expensive.

USDA has inspected the farms on citrus canker and has observed the disease in an early stadium. Grapefruits grown on a farm with citrus canker is not allowed to be exported to Europe. In contrast, export to Japan and Korea is still allowed.

When citrus canker is observed on a farm in an extreme volume, all trees have to be destroyed. This has already happened to several growers. These growers are compensated, but a shortage in the nearby future is realistic.

The Dutch importer Juniorfruit expects to import less grapefruits of the varieties Ruby Red and Dark Red. "We may not forget that last year the growers were confronted with the worst hurricanes in years. So last year was also not a great year for the grapefruit production and this year the production will be even smaller", says John van Duivenbode of Juniorfruit.

Publication date: 10/30/2007
Author: Lody van Berkel
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