DNE'S Australian citrus program strong overall, with excellent quality
DNE'S Australian citrus program strong overall, with excellent quality
Movement of Australian citrus was a bit slower than normal this July due to decreased volumes of citrus in Australia, but the quality and condition of the fruit are excellent, according to the exclusive U.S. importer of that country's citrus crop.
"During harvest, there were long stretches of morning fog that prevented producers from getting to the fruit for harvesting," said Stu Monaghan, national sales manager for DNE World Fruit Sales in Fort Pierce, FL.
DNE is the only U.S. importer of Australian citrus, although its sub-agent, The Oppenheimer Group, based in Vancouver, BC, markets about 20 percent of the volume.
Mr. Monaghan said that movement began July 7, and Navels are now in full swing.
"The condition of the fruit is excellent," he said. "The eating quality and deep orange color could not be better. We project between 1.2 [million] and 1.3 million cartons this year, which is down from the 1.8 million-carton movement last year. The drought in Australian has taken a toll on how many Navels growers can produce."
Navel varieties in the Australian movement begin with Navelinas, followed by Washingtons and finishing with Late Lanes, a late-maturing variety. The Navel program will peak in the middle of August, winding down to a finish at the end of September.
Mr. Monaghan said that volumes in September are projected to be smaller due to a light set of Late Lanes, but the fruit is a full size larger, peaking at 56 compared to last year's 72.
DNE also handles a portion of organic Navels from Australia, but due to the limited shelf life, volumes are minimal.
"We are enthusiastic about the Daisy mandarin program from Australia," said Mr. Monaghan. "It started last year with 20,000 cartons and performed very well. The program has been increased to 50,000 cartons this year. It's an easy-peel fruit with high Brix and great color. The fruit is juicy, flavorful with smooth skin, and it does have some seeds. These will move from the first week of July to the third week of August."
Daisy mandarins are marketed under the "RiverSun" label, which is used for about 95 percent of DNE's Australian program. RiverSun is also the name of the Australian grower cooperative.
Volumes of Minneolas from Australia are also down a little this year. Mr. Monaghan said that DNE projects between 200,000 and 220,000 cartons.
"The amount of Minneolas produced in the country is not down, but we limited the volume we are importing to what we felt we could get a good return on, in light of an expected large volume of fruit coming from Peru," he said. "We handle Peruvian Minneolas for the eastern portion of the United States so as not to conflict with Australian Minneolas, which are distributed in the West."
Minneola sizes will peak at 45s, then 53s and ultimately 36s. Overall, the fruit is larger than it was last year, and DNE will pack in 10-kilo cartons, 100 per pallet.
Minneolas started arriving the last week of July," said Mr. Monaghan. "This fruit separates itself from that of South Africa and Peru in its exceptional quality. The program will run through the second week of September, peaking in mid-August. We are asking customers for promotions from August 13 through September 10."
Australian Ellendale mandarins will begin the last week of August. DNE expects about 50,000 cartons, down from a year ago. Mr. Monaghan noted that because of the drought, growers are forced to put the water they have in crops that are higher in profitability. But there are enough growers to produce ample volumes of Ellendales for a sizable U.S. import program, he stressed.
This year, DNE's Australian citrus will be shipped in containers rather than charter vessels. Mr. Monaghan said that overseas freight is far less expensive this way because the number of charter vessels available for large citrus programs has dwindled compared to container vessels.
"Besides Australia, our South African, Peruvian and Chilean programs are in progress on the East Coast," said Mr. Monaghan. "We also have a sizable Mexican lemon program that runs from the first week of August to the first week of November. This movement has grown tremendously for DNE. We project moving 300,000 cartons this season - about double what we handled in the past."
Mr. Monaghan noted that the coming Florida citrus crop is looking good in terms of size. "We have had steady rainfall throughout the summer so far," he said. "Barring any major weather problems, this will likely translate into an early start. Florida's movement should begin the last week of October to the first week of November."
"During harvest, there were long stretches of morning fog that prevented producers from getting to the fruit for harvesting," said Stu Monaghan, national sales manager for DNE World Fruit Sales in Fort Pierce, FL.
DNE is the only U.S. importer of Australian citrus, although its sub-agent, The Oppenheimer Group, based in Vancouver, BC, markets about 20 percent of the volume.
Mr. Monaghan said that movement began July 7, and Navels are now in full swing.
"The condition of the fruit is excellent," he said. "The eating quality and deep orange color could not be better. We project between 1.2 [million] and 1.3 million cartons this year, which is down from the 1.8 million-carton movement last year. The drought in Australian has taken a toll on how many Navels growers can produce."
Navel varieties in the Australian movement begin with Navelinas, followed by Washingtons and finishing with Late Lanes, a late-maturing variety. The Navel program will peak in the middle of August, winding down to a finish at the end of September.
Mr. Monaghan said that volumes in September are projected to be smaller due to a light set of Late Lanes, but the fruit is a full size larger, peaking at 56 compared to last year's 72.
DNE also handles a portion of organic Navels from Australia, but due to the limited shelf life, volumes are minimal.
"We are enthusiastic about the Daisy mandarin program from Australia," said Mr. Monaghan. "It started last year with 20,000 cartons and performed very well. The program has been increased to 50,000 cartons this year. It's an easy-peel fruit with high Brix and great color. The fruit is juicy, flavorful with smooth skin, and it does have some seeds. These will move from the first week of July to the third week of August."
Daisy mandarins are marketed under the "RiverSun" label, which is used for about 95 percent of DNE's Australian program. RiverSun is also the name of the Australian grower cooperative.
Volumes of Minneolas from Australia are also down a little this year. Mr. Monaghan said that DNE projects between 200,000 and 220,000 cartons.
"The amount of Minneolas produced in the country is not down, but we limited the volume we are importing to what we felt we could get a good return on, in light of an expected large volume of fruit coming from Peru," he said. "We handle Peruvian Minneolas for the eastern portion of the United States so as not to conflict with Australian Minneolas, which are distributed in the West."
Minneola sizes will peak at 45s, then 53s and ultimately 36s. Overall, the fruit is larger than it was last year, and DNE will pack in 10-kilo cartons, 100 per pallet.
Minneolas started arriving the last week of July," said Mr. Monaghan. "This fruit separates itself from that of South Africa and Peru in its exceptional quality. The program will run through the second week of September, peaking in mid-August. We are asking customers for promotions from August 13 through September 10."
Australian Ellendale mandarins will begin the last week of August. DNE expects about 50,000 cartons, down from a year ago. Mr. Monaghan noted that because of the drought, growers are forced to put the water they have in crops that are higher in profitability. But there are enough growers to produce ample volumes of Ellendales for a sizable U.S. import program, he stressed.
This year, DNE's Australian citrus will be shipped in containers rather than charter vessels. Mr. Monaghan said that overseas freight is far less expensive this way because the number of charter vessels available for large citrus programs has dwindled compared to container vessels.
"Besides Australia, our South African, Peruvian and Chilean programs are in progress on the East Coast," said Mr. Monaghan. "We also have a sizable Mexican lemon program that runs from the first week of August to the first week of November. This movement has grown tremendously for DNE. We project moving 300,000 cartons this season - about double what we handled in the past."
Mr. Monaghan noted that the coming Florida citrus crop is looking good in terms of size. "We have had steady rainfall throughout the summer so far," he said. "Barring any major weather problems, this will likely translate into an early start. Florida's movement should begin the last week of October to the first week of November."
