The Competitive Market of Clementines

The citrus market is a competitive one. Although the clementine market is restricted to the months of November through March, the Florida fresh Clementine market excels in the United States of America domestic market. This is primarily due to the fact that clementines, once harvested, do not keep for very long periods of time. Therefore, international imports of the same fruit are generally not as fresh, nor do the have the same capability of shelf life as those that are harvest fresh here in the United States and on your local produce market tables or in your local supermarket within a few days.

There are also standards set by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 that requires various internationally imported citrus fruits be of the same size, quality, grade and maturity standards imposed on national producers in order to sell at a commercial level. This Federal marketing order provides the quality control that America consumers desire and expect from their purchases. Somehow this law does not cover the tangerine family, including the clementine. This impacts the quality and the pricing of your clementine produce and impacts the economy of the tangerine production in the United States.

With roughly 50 percent of the Florida tangerine market being clementine production, this fruits on-tree and shelf value is very important to the state of Florida. Nearly 95 percent of the production of clementines and cousin tangerines in Florida are shipped domestically with the small export percentage mostly going to our northern neighbors, Canada. The value of the clementines nearly tripled between 1990 and 2000, with a relatively small impact relative to the rate of inflation.

Also, the post 9/11 rage for buying American products over foreign imports has helped local farmers in the economic turn down that hit throughout 2000 until 2010. In the past few decades, Florida has accounted for more than 50 percent of the United States of America domestic market of tangerines and clementines. This, mixed with competition from other subtropical and tropical areas of the United States that also produce clementines, leaves little room for foreign imports to succeed in the competitive citrus market. The cost of ocean freight for foreign imports is very high in comparison, therefore giving Florida a true advantage in the clementine, tangerine and citrus markets regardless of the quality regulations. The next time you go to your local grocers and buy clementines, chances are, regardless of foreign and domestic competition, the best quality and price will be the ones from Florida.

Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves

At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.

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