The technical services of Valencia's La Unió de Llauradors (Growers' Association) have produced a report showing how the production of the hybrid mandarin Nadorcott has been increasing over recent seasons and, conversely, how the price received by those growing it has declined steadily.
Except for a small break in the 2012-2013 and 2015-2016 campaigns, when the production was reduced as a result of the weather conditions, the Nadorcott volume has grown steadily since the 2011-2012 season. Overall, the production achieved in the last two seasons is more than 200% greater than that of the previous four years.
As regards price developments, it can be seen how, during the months of January and February, which is when most of the production concentrates, they have been going down in recent seasons and this declining trend has consolidated with another 5% drop, despite the harvest being smaller than the previous one. According to LA UNIÓ, the appearance of other varieties in the same market segment, such as the Orri or Tango, is one of the factors explaining this trend. And it is also worth noting that the price of the Ortanique, which until now was the only competitor to the Nadorcott, has plummeted.
Given this situation, LA UNIÓ has asked the regional government for legislative procedures to force owners or tenants of rural properties in surrounding areas engaged in the production of crops likely to have an impact on the fruit's commercial depreciation to apply for permits to the Council of Agriculture, depositing a guarantee to cover any losses they could cause.
All this could be aggravated further by a new process (the third one), for the granting of new licences to grow the Nadorcott variety. The first one, of 100,000 trees, was granted to ASOVAV partners; the second one, agreed with Anecoop, involved the planting of 200,000 trees, and now the third one, the most ambitious one, will entail the granting of a licence for 500,000 trees to the members of the Club of Protected Plant Varieties (CVVP). Having 800,000 trees authorised in recent years means that one of the most problematic hybrids due to the pollination it causes will be grown on almost 1,900 hectares in scattered areas, with no controls or requirements to prevent the effects of citrus cross-pollination. In any case, LA UNIÓ has insisted on the legality of the process.
