“The 2023/24 season for citrus fruits destined for processing concluded with high prices. It was a time characterized by the presence of large amount of fruits that were extremely small in size so much that the traders were reluctant to buy lots with over 50% of the citruses were tiny. In many cases, they provided price levels so low that producers could not afford the costs of production,” According to Salvatore Imbesi, manager of Ortogel which is a Sicilian firm that specializes in the fields of pomegranate, citrus and processing summer fruit.

“In an environment characterized by the changing climate,” adds Salvatore Imbesi, “which has resulted in high costs for production because of the drought (there was a lack of rainfall in Sicily during the winter, and even up to today) farmers with reservoirs or wells have had have to pay for significant costs in order to get water up to the surface. Recalls by the industry of citrus fruits at an average of 0.30 EUR/kg came as an oasis of relief for farmers. If this hadn’t been done and a larger amount of the fruit could have been in the unopened market compared to what remained on trees, increasing the financial burden of farmers.”

“We have sold around 60 % of our citrus juice that was extracted from the harvest this year. This comes in spite of a lack of stock reserves that has hindered us from fulfilling our contracted obligations over the last four years. It is still a challenge to maintain supplies, in an environment that is plagued by scarcity, which results in high prices. The reason for this is various factors as well as the international environment in which worldwide quantity (from Brazil, Mexico and the USA, Mexico and Brazil) of the blonde juice are 60% less than the norm.”

“On the business aspect international market is in a rut and many businesses have arranged holidays and reduced production schedules. In Sicily predictions for the coming citrus harvest have shown that production is that are within normal levels, in line with the condition and age of the trees that are believed to produce if they are renewed by planting more resilient kinds of citrus.”

“The primary concern for cultivators for the upcoming citrus season is the in the first place, and that is dryness. It is hoped to get water drawn out of the Lentini dam, which is home to an area of around 90 million cubic meters of water and wasn’t used in the previous season, possibly because of the mechanical flaws within the dam’s structure.” says Imbesi.