The demand for sweet and easy-peel citrus with no or few seeds is apparent when one considers the varieties currently being imported for the summer months.

While there are exceptions, such as the continued demand for traditional oranges and lemons, U.S. distributors report that the demand for clementines, Mandarins and Minneolas and other sweet and easy-peel citrus is strong and growing fast.

Kathy Hearl, marketing promotions manager for DNE World Fruit in Fort Pierce, FL, said the company’s summer citrus lineup offers a full range of citrus and is strong in the easy-peel category.

“Clementines from Chile will be available from late May through August,” said Hearl. “From South Africa they will be available from mid-June to July, and from Uruguay we will have them in May and June.”

DNE’s clementines are available in two-, three- and five-pound bags. The five-pound bags are also typically used by club stores.

Late-season Mandarins from DNE will arrive from Australia in late September through mid-October. From Chile and South Africa, they will be available from September through October.

“Mandarins from Uruguay will be available July and August, and from Peru they will be available from mid-August through mid-September,” said Hearl.

DNE World Fruit’s Minneolas from Australia will be available from late August through September and from Peru from mid-July through August. Daisy Mandarins from Australia will be available in late June and July.

Navel, Cara Cara and other orange categories continue to represent a strong portion of DNE World Fruit’s summer citrus import programs. Lemons are also an important category for the company.

Karen Brux, North America managing director for the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association, said a great year is expected for Chilean citrus, with increases across the board for easy peelers, Navels and lemons.

“The vast majority of easy peelers and Navels produced in Chile are shipped to the U.S. market,” said Brux. “We foresee a small decrease in clementine exports this year — from 26,264 tons down to 23,638 tons — but a large increase in Mandarin exports — from 30,096 tons to 43,338 tons. In total, the entire easy-peeler category is expected to grow by almost 19 percent.”

She also pointed out that with strong growth in Mandarin exports — 44 percent — CFFA will be focusing its promotional efforts from mid-August onward, aiming to build sales momentum and maintain it through early November.

“Chile supplies citrus to the U.S. from May through October,” said Brux. “Clementines are supplied from May through August with three varieties: Oronules, Orogrande and Clemenules.

Late Mandarins from Chile are available from August through October.

“With larger volumes of Chilean citrus arriving from August onward, most retail promotions will be focused on the August to October time frame, allowing for back-to-school and fall themes,” added Brux.

Suhanra Conradie, chief executive officer of the Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum, said the first conventional vessel of citrus from South Africa arrived at the port of Philadelphia on June 15.

“It brought approximately 3,800 pallets of easy peelers and Navel oranges,” said Conradie. Two additional vessels were scheduled to arrive by June 25 and July 6.

The detailed shipping plan from South Africa has conventional vessels arriving through October about every 10-12 days, based on market demand.

“Container vessels with smaller volumes will arrive between to assure a steady supply of our citrus,” said Conradie.

An overview of world citrus production is not an indication that imports to the U.S. are coming from countries that produce the most. This is mainly due to the stringent U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service protocols that are developed to prevent diseases and insects from entering the United States.

The Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reports that in 2012 Brazil led world citrus production with 18 million tons. Behind Brazil in production follow, respectively, the United States, China, India, Mexico, Spain, Egypt, Italy, Turkey, South Africa and, as of two years ago, Uruguay, when it joined the ranks of countries that meet the USDA criteria.

The majority of the summer citrus imported into the U.S. comes from South Africa, Chile, Australia, Spain and Italy — all of which are in the lower production numbers.

In addition to meeting the USDA criteria, citrus fruits from these countries meet the American consumers’ demand for high quality, flavorful and most highly desired varieties — and during a time when citrus production in the U.S. is in its off-season.