Report: Easy-Peel Citrus Continues To Grow in Popularity

Posted by Growing Produce Staff|May 2, 2022

Easy-peel citrus is continuing to grow its appeal, according to a new report from RaboResearch. Generically known as mandarins (which includes clementines, tangerines, tangelos, and more), U.S. domestic production and imports have grown considerably in the past decade, putting easy peelers on the road to pass common oranges and become the most consumed fresh citrus fruit in North America.

In South America, exports began to increase in 2017 thanks to greater production from Peru and Chile. This growth is expected to continue in the coming season, but at a slower pace.

Challenges on the production side and logistics constraints continue to put pressure on both countries. Nevertheless, demand remains healthy for South American easy peelers in the Americas.

As U.S. demand for mandarins grew faster than domestic production, prices increased during several seasons, incentivizing more plantings. While bearing acreage in California increased more than sixfold in the past 20 years, RaboResearch expects that steadying prices, increasing production costs, as well as water and labor constraints will limit acreage expansion in the short run. In contrast, bearing acreage in Florida decreased during that same time due to pressure from HLB.

For more info from the report, visit RaboResearch.com.