Salix Fruits has become a year-round citrus supplier, connecting growers from both hemispheres with retail, foodservice and wholesale customers. 

“Our role is to ensure continuity and reliability, sourcing from diverse regions so that citrus is available 52 weeks a year,” said Alejandro Moralejo, CEO of Salix Fruits. “This diversification has been key to navigating market volatility and climate challenges.”

The upcoming winter citrus season is clearly defined by origin with Moralejo explaining that the U.S. and Mexico are showing excellent production across all categories, ensuring strong supply from North America. 

“In contrast, several Mediterranean countries have faced climate challenges — Turkey experienced frosts while Spain had an unusually wet spring,” Moralejo said. “Morocco and Egypt, however, are reporting more stable conditions.”

This scenario suggests that in many European regions, lower production volumes could translate into higher field prices, though it remains to be seen whether the markets will validate those levels.

“In Asia, China continues to play a central role as both a major producer and consumer,” Moralejo said. “It will be a key supplier to Russia and other regions, while also absorbing a significant share of its own production domestically.”

Therefore, this will be a challenging year to meet growers’ price expectations across Mediterranean markets. 

“Weather-related issues and lower volumes are creating pressure that could result in higher field prices, though it remains uncertain whether the market will validate those levels,” Moralejo said. “In the U.S. market, the situation is quite different: an oversupply of citrus is putting significant downward pressure on prices. Imported oranges have benefited from the suspension of tariffs, which has supported competitiveness, although tariffs remain in place for other citrus categories.”

During the Northern Hemisphere winter season, Salix Fruits supplies its fresh squeeze programs in the U.S. market with high-quality oranges from Mexico. 

“Moroccan mandarins are another key component of our portfolio, while Egyptian oranges serve customers across Asia, Europe and South America,” Moralejo said. “California lemons remain an outstanding product, consistently performing across all categories and continuing to be a cornerstone of our winter citrus program.”

Additionally, Argentina and Chile remain essential for lemons and mandarins. Morocco and Spain are strong suppliers of oranges and clementines, while Mexico continues to be critical for limes. 

“California complements supply for both lemons and oranges,” Moralejo said. “Conditions vary, but overall, 2025 showed resilience across these regions, and we expect that to continue into 2026.”

Salix Fruits continues to work consistently with the same trusted growers year after year, building long-term partnerships that ensure stability and reliability. 

“Our quality control teams are present at the points of origin to monitor production closely and we also provide QC support at the destinations,” Moralejo said. “This dual approach allows us to maintain consistency, safeguard quality and deliver dependable supply throughout the winter months.”

Last year, the company began marketing organic lemons from Argentina for the U.S. market and this year it is already working on shipments to Europe. 

“The European market is particularly demanding, given the strong presence of BIO products from Spain and Italy, so expanding our organic program there represents both a challenge and an opportunity,” Moralejo said. 

Innovation is central to Salix Fruit’s strategy. “We use market intelligence to anticipate demand and adjust sourcing,” Moralejo said. “Exploring new origins helps diversify risk and expand availability. On logistics, digital tracking systems improve efficiency and transparency. Innovation allows us to stay agile and competitive in a complex global market.”

Looking ahead, the outlook for the category is positive. “Citrus remains resilient, driven by health-conscious consumers,” Moralejo said. “Opportunities lie in differentiation through sustainability, convenience and premium offerings. Easy-peel mandarins, organic lemons, and high-quality oranges are categories with growth potential. By combining reliable supply, innovation and sustainability, Salix Fruits is well positioned to continue expanding globally.”