Supplies of lemons are steady with good quality fruit coming from California.
“I’m pulling from D1 and D2,” says Paul G. Gonzalez of River City Produce Inc. Based in San Antonio, TX. “The Mexican crop had excellent quality too. They had some weather issues but they had a good crop with a strong finish. There are a handful of off-blooms but that’s why I’ve gone to California when Mexico finished up about three weeks ago.”
Gonzalez says he’ll stay with supplies from California until Mexico picks up again, though when that will be is difficult to say. “Because of the weather, sometimes it’s earlier and sometimes it’s later. Generally it’s more in the fall but sometimes we’ve had them in early July,” he says.
At the same time demand is very good for lemons. This week particularly so given the popularity of lemons in the run up to Easter and throughout Lent. “But the lemon business is probably even better because of the lime market. Limes are at historic pricing right now. We’re selling limes for anywhere from $75-95/box which I’ve seen in the past, but not stay up as long as it has. That’s also because of a weather issue in Mexico,” Gonzalez says.
Lemons and limes
That’s put pressure on the lemon market for some three to four weeks now. “The FOBs right now are unheard of. The restaurants that use limes are also using lemons so that’s why the lemon business is even better,” he says.
Also putting pressure on the business are increased freight rates and high diesel prices. “With the price of diesel, some are trying to get rates even higher,” says Gonzalez.
All of this though is making for reasonable, lower pricing than last year at this time. Choice grade lemons are between $16.50-$18.50 while Fancy grade are $19-$22.
And looking ahead, Gonzalez continues to see demand for lemons staying strong. “Business is going to get better because everyone’s tired of the pandemic. The restaurants are making a comeback which is a good thing,” he says.
