Croatian growers expect up to 32,000 tonnes of mandarin this season

ZAGREB, Sept 7 (Hina) – This year, between 30,000 and 32,000 tonnes of mandarin production can be expected and growers expect the buy-up price to be about four kuna per kilo, a representative of mandarin producers in the Neretva Delta, Neven Mataga, told Hina on Monday.

An estimated 32,000 tonnes will mean a decline of 15% compared to the harvest last year, he explained.

This year, mandarins are likely to be of uniform size, and the best-selling size will account for a considerable share in this year’s harvest, which is likely to start in late September.

Wholesale dealers and producers are already negotiating the range of prices for this year’s harvest.

Fruit with higher quality can be sold at the price of four kuna per kilo, while lower-quality fruits are likely to have a price of HRK 2.5 per kilo.

The Neretva River valley is covered with 2,200 hectares covered of mandarin groves.

Mataga also notes that some 15,000 tonnes of mandarins will be sold on the domestic market, and the rest on foreign markets.

Representatives of the Enna Fruit company say that a rise in the export of mandarins can be expected due to the coronavirus epidemic as that could prompt consumers to buy more citrus fruits.