Written and Published by BMT Foods, March 10, 2021
With Spring just on the horizon in the Northern Hemisphere, the team at BMT Foods provides the following update on two of our most in-demand seasonal crops: Sicilian Blood Orange and Argentine lemons. Although we are seeing encouraging signs for both crops, various challenges remain, and we continue to monitor the development of both crops into the Spring.
Sicilian Blood Orange Crop Update
With the 2019-2020 Sicilian blood orange crop season being nothing short of disastrous for growers, the bar was set very low for a better season this year. As expected, the 2020-2021 Sicilian blood orange crop season has so far proven to be better than last year. This year, we are experiencing a normal (average) season, according to some of BMT Foods’ top Sicilian blood orange suppliers.
Although processing started off slow this year, delaying the production of Blood Orange juice products, normal total fruit volume has allowed production to accelerate. There were fears that with Sicily’s Mount Etna erupting multiple times, this year’s crop would be damaged. However, the fruits made it through the eruptions unscathed – and production is proceeding according to expectations.
Production of this year’s Sicilian blood orange crop will likely accelerate further in March, with the potential for this year’s crop season to extend into April – a welcome change for this crop after last year.
BMT Foods offers Blood Orange Juice NFC – perfect for brewing, soft drinks, and natural beverages, and Blood Orange Juice Concentrate – ideal for juice and beverage production, vinaigrettes, desserts, and smoothies.
Argentine Lemon Crop Update
This year’s Argentine lemon crop is expected to come in around 20-25% smaller than last year’s crop season, according to several of BMT Foods’ Argentine lemon producers. In the end, this will mean about 850,000 tons of Argentine lemons available for production, down around 20% from last year (with a crop of 1.10 – 1.15 million tons of lemons.)
This year’s reduced Argentine lemon crop will be the result of intense drought, frost, and hail during the Argentine winter. Although fortunes improved somewhat with heavy rains in January and February, much of the damage was already done to this year’s crop. At this point, our Argentine lemon producers are banking on continued rain in March and April to produce an adequate crop.
BMT Foods offers Lemon Juice NFC and Lemon Juice Concentrate – both ideal for natural products, grab and go Beverages, snacks, and desserts.
As BMT Foods learns more about the specifics of this year’s crops in both areas, we will continue to provide further market updates. We are available to answer any questions you have about our product offerings. Reach out to us today to learn more.
