Seald-Sweet's offshore citrus programs running steady
Seald-Sweet's offshore citrus programs running steady
"Our South African citrus program began with limited supplies in June," said David Mixon, senior vice president of Seald-Sweet International, headquartered in Vero Beach, FL. "Due to growing conditions, supplies were somewhat late -- about two to three weeks behind last year. On a long-term average, it makes this year's movement about four weeks later than normal."
The erratic movement start is attributable to varying weather conditions in South Africa's citrus-growing regions. Mr. Mixon said that temperatures were warmer and the region received more rainfall than normal. Besides a delayed start, the conditions resulted in smaller fruit sizes.
Mr. Mixon said that Nules clemenules, a common clementine variety that represents the largest volume in the market, are currently arriving in the United States from South Africa and will continue until movement switches to the later-season ClemenGold variety. The clementine program will continue through the end of September, given the typical transitional periods between varieties.
"Minneola tangelos from South Africa are arriving now and will move through the end of August," said Mr. Mixon. "Early oranges are also moving and are expected to run through September. The overall South African citrus program hits its peak about the first week of August with large volumes of Navels and continues strong for about 30 days. Vessels will continue to arrive in spatterings through the end of September to the first week of October. Once Navels begin depleting -- around the middle of September -- we'll move into the Midnight orange program."
This snapshot overview wraps up Seald-Sweet's South African movement. Mr. Mixon added that despite the delays, the appearance of the fruit is very good, and the eating quality on all varieties is great. Although it is not a bumper crop, all categories and varieties will have good volumes. Prices on clementines are expected to be a little lower than normal. Minneolas will run about average, and Navels will be higher against year-to-year comparisons.
Chilean citrus started moving in May, beginning with the Nules variety of clementines. Toward the end of the Chilean season's program, Seald-Sweet switches to Honey Murcot and W. Murcot varieties. That program is expected to last through the normal movement period (from the end of September to early October).
"Volumes from Chile are down considerably this year," said Mr. Mixon. "Expectations are from at least from 40-60 percent lower than normal years. Like South Africa, the reduced volumes and small sizes are attributed to weather conditions.
"But the major factors affecting imports of citrus [by] the U.S. lay in merging world markets," he continued. "There is less product coming into the U.S. due to the dollar value. Pressure from Russia and the Far East [is] pulling product from Chile. As the euro has grown stronger, these markets are feeling the consequence. The Far Eastern yen's value reflects back to the net returns growers in foreign countries receive. Today, there is great value to foreign countries in purchasing nearly any good produced in the U.S. But it's not economically sound for U.S. companies to pay for foreign goods during this economic period."
Seald-Sweet's Chilean lemon export program to the United States will also be limited in volume due to lack of supplies and economic conditions. The company is, however, very excited about its Mexican lemon and lime programs. "This movement is going very well this season," said Mr. Mixon. "We have increased our lime volumes, which is nearly a year-round movement for Seald-Sweet today. We look to the program increasing even more in the future. The lemon program is just kicking off, and we are confident it will also be a successful endeavor."
Following the company's Chilean season, the next citrus movement for Seald-Sweet is from California. It starts in late September to mid-October, but Mr. Mixon said that he expects to see some desert lemons starting earlier. Due to weather stresses in the state, he said that the crop this year is lower than normal in volume.
"Florida comes on right at the same time as California," added Mr. Mixon. "The crop looks very similar to last year's as far as tonnage and quality -- about a week to two earlier than normal."
Mr. Mixon said that he is excited about Seald Sweet's continued personnel expansion. The company recently added three new staff members to its team. "Steve Tursi recently joined us in new business development," he said. "His knowledge of the retail industry and ability to work in new products will be an asset to Seald Sweet and will help us progress in the direction we feel is extremely important.
"Mark Lewis has also joined us as executive vice president of new product development," Mr. Mixon continued. "He is involved in imports. We are also very excited about Darlene Johnson joining our staff in the sales manager position. She is highly experienced in sales, marketing and account management."
The erratic movement start is attributable to varying weather conditions in South Africa's citrus-growing regions. Mr. Mixon said that temperatures were warmer and the region received more rainfall than normal. Besides a delayed start, the conditions resulted in smaller fruit sizes.
Mr. Mixon said that Nules clemenules, a common clementine variety that represents the largest volume in the market, are currently arriving in the United States from South Africa and will continue until movement switches to the later-season ClemenGold variety. The clementine program will continue through the end of September, given the typical transitional periods between varieties.
"Minneola tangelos from South Africa are arriving now and will move through the end of August," said Mr. Mixon. "Early oranges are also moving and are expected to run through September. The overall South African citrus program hits its peak about the first week of August with large volumes of Navels and continues strong for about 30 days. Vessels will continue to arrive in spatterings through the end of September to the first week of October. Once Navels begin depleting -- around the middle of September -- we'll move into the Midnight orange program."
This snapshot overview wraps up Seald-Sweet's South African movement. Mr. Mixon added that despite the delays, the appearance of the fruit is very good, and the eating quality on all varieties is great. Although it is not a bumper crop, all categories and varieties will have good volumes. Prices on clementines are expected to be a little lower than normal. Minneolas will run about average, and Navels will be higher against year-to-year comparisons.
Chilean citrus started moving in May, beginning with the Nules variety of clementines. Toward the end of the Chilean season's program, Seald-Sweet switches to Honey Murcot and W. Murcot varieties. That program is expected to last through the normal movement period (from the end of September to early October).
"Volumes from Chile are down considerably this year," said Mr. Mixon. "Expectations are from at least from 40-60 percent lower than normal years. Like South Africa, the reduced volumes and small sizes are attributed to weather conditions.
"But the major factors affecting imports of citrus [by] the U.S. lay in merging world markets," he continued. "There is less product coming into the U.S. due to the dollar value. Pressure from Russia and the Far East [is] pulling product from Chile. As the euro has grown stronger, these markets are feeling the consequence. The Far Eastern yen's value reflects back to the net returns growers in foreign countries receive. Today, there is great value to foreign countries in purchasing nearly any good produced in the U.S. But it's not economically sound for U.S. companies to pay for foreign goods during this economic period."
Seald-Sweet's Chilean lemon export program to the United States will also be limited in volume due to lack of supplies and economic conditions. The company is, however, very excited about its Mexican lemon and lime programs. "This movement is going very well this season," said Mr. Mixon. "We have increased our lime volumes, which is nearly a year-round movement for Seald-Sweet today. We look to the program increasing even more in the future. The lemon program is just kicking off, and we are confident it will also be a successful endeavor."
Following the company's Chilean season, the next citrus movement for Seald-Sweet is from California. It starts in late September to mid-October, but Mr. Mixon said that he expects to see some desert lemons starting earlier. Due to weather stresses in the state, he said that the crop this year is lower than normal in volume.
"Florida comes on right at the same time as California," added Mr. Mixon. "The crop looks very similar to last year's as far as tonnage and quality -- about a week to two earlier than normal."
Mr. Mixon said that he is excited about Seald Sweet's continued personnel expansion. The company recently added three new staff members to its team. "Steve Tursi recently joined us in new business development," he said. "His knowledge of the retail industry and ability to work in new products will be an asset to Seald Sweet and will help us progress in the direction we feel is extremely important.
"Mark Lewis has also joined us as executive vice president of new product development," Mr. Mixon continued. "He is involved in imports. We are also very excited about Darlene Johnson joining our staff in the sales manager position. She is highly experienced in sales, marketing and account management."
