The Peruvian citrus industry is expecting an 11% export rise to 100,000 metric tons (MT) in 2013 thanks to new mandarin plantations growing in maturity, website Agraria.pe reported.

ProCitrus general manager Sergio del Castillo Valderrama told the publication while shipments would be on the rise, the hybrid variety Tangelo Minneola had presented serious problems for the industry.

He recommended growers to not continue growing the variety as it had reached its peak, and demand was moving towards easy peeling seedless medium-sized mandarins with good color, such as W Murcotts.

Del Castillo indicated there had not been any abnormal climatic conditions that could have impacted citrus tree flowering. The level of fruit fly presence is low, and so the manager does not expect any problems.

Peru exports citrus fruits to markets such as the U.K., the Netherlands, the U.S. , Canada, Sweden, Ireland and Russia, while the National Agricultural Health Services (SENASA) is currently working on gaining citrus access in Japan, South Korea and Brazil.

www.freshfruitportal.com