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Valencia grower squeeze
17 Dec 2003
Many valencia orange growers could be forced out of business if juicing companies don't raise their prices. Australian Citrus Growers says crops have been halved, mainly due to adverse weather conditions and the biennial bearing nature of the trees. One Riverina grower said he picked 500 tonnes of valencia oranges last year but will be lucky to make 200 tonnes this season. Growers are now wondering if the average price paid of $200 a tonne will be enough to cover costs, and some even say that $300 a tonne would not be enough.
A Mildura grower said valencias are so scarce that only three out of the region's 12 packing sheds are packing fruit.
Australia's valencia production reached a high in the early 1990s of around 480,000 tonnes; this season will only see an estimated 195,000 tonnes.
Weekly Times, 17/12/03, page 7.
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