Oranges, supply drop and price rise feared after effects of Cyclone Harry

There is still (almost) no effect on nationwide supplies of citrus fruit after the strong wave of bad weather that first hit Sicily in particular and then also Calabria, Sardinia and other southern regions. But there is no shortage of fears of a shortening of the citrus fruit marketing season, with possible effects on prices in the coming weeks. And among the producers there are those who make a heartfelt appeal to the large-scale distribution: this is not the time for promotions, we need support.

The effects of Cyclone Harry, which haswiped out or heavily damaged citrus fruit production, are not yet fully reflected on market stalls. "Last week, domestic citrus fruits, in particular Tarocco oranges, registered only a slight increase of 0.10 €/kg and are available on the counters with current quotations between 0.90 and 1.80 €/kg," comments Fabio Massimo Pallottini, general manager of the Centro agroalimentare Roma. "The quality of the product remains excellent, as the goods currently available were harvested before the cyclone passed, still guaranteeing ample availability," he adds. "However, it is expected that in the short term the effects of the bad weather will begin to affect product availability: some orchards will not be able to be harvested, while others will produce goods with obvious cosmetic defects, reducing the amount of marketable product and the possibility of storing it for a long time by refrigeration. And these conditions could affect prices'.

Among Sicilian producers, despair reigns. The cyclone has hit the island in the middle of the citrus fruit campaign and the mockery as well as the damage is - according to all the producers surveyed - that this year the quality-quantity ratio is considered good.

Salvo Laudani, marketing manager of Oranfrizer (Unifrutti), Italy's leading producer and distributor of citrus fruits with 20 million kilograms produced per year, estimates a 40% loss, 'although it is too early to say for sure'.

Gerardo Diana, president of the Arancia di Sicilia Igp Consortium - 21,297,358 kg destined for the fresh trade in the 2024-2025 season and 4,874,780 kg destined for the industry - adds a further insight. During this period, a number of promotion campaigns will be launched by large-scale retail trade and discount stores on the IGP blood orange. "After an event like this, the large-scale retail trade should recognise a premium for producers and packers," he says. "We pass these citrus fruits at least four times in the machines to check that they are healthy, we undergo exhausting work. We would expect help from our partners in distribution and discounters: not promotions'.