Fruit Today Magazine spoke with Fernando Castelló, Business Unit Director at Bollo Natural Fruit and partner at EVAM, about the outcome of the 2025/26 commercial season for the Early Pride (Earlyna) mandarin.
Did Earlyna fill the strategic gap in November?
Yes, the Earlyna mandarin effectively filled the November commercial gap. It enabled customers who opted for this variety to maintain a continuous mandarin supply by linking Southern Hemisphere production with Northern Hemisphere output. This ensured a smooth transition in the market, avoiding disruptions in product availability.
How has the European market responded?
The response has been outstanding. Customers particularly value the consistent fruit quality and the near absence of seeds and phytosanitary issues (mite damage and decay-related disorders affecting degreened clementines). These characteristics have generated a high level of satisfaction and confidence in Earlyna.
How did 2025 weather conditions affect fruit size?
Weather conditions during the season had no negative impact on fruit size. Almost the entire crop was marketed in commercial sizes, reflecting the robustness and adaptability of the variety to environmental conditions.
Were there any issues with “rind puffing”?
Unlike clementines, which are prone to this physiological disorder, Earlyna maintains optimal quality, contributing to better presentation and greater market acceptance, and is not susceptible to “rind puffing”.
How have Bollo’s customers responded to Earlyna as an early mandarin?
The Earlyna mandarin shows excellent commercial performance after packing, making it suitable for a wide range of markets, both European and international. Bollo’s customers have responded very positively, highlighting its versatility and stability throughout the supply chain.
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Do you expect demand to continue growing and require additional planted area?
Demand is clearly expanding. Major European retailers have already secured volumes for the next season, making it necessary to plan ahead and increase planted area. In fact, Bollo Natural Fruit is investing in new proprietary plantings of this variety, which will be added to existing Earlyna orchards.
What is your overall assessment of this challenging season?
This season has been decisive in consolidating Earlyna as a benchmark mandarin variety. In a year marked by widespread quality issues in early clementines, Earlyna has proven to be a reliable, high-quality alternative. The retail channel, in particular, has found in this variety a solution to extend the mandarin season without compromising shelf life or quality. As sufficient critical mass is achieved in future seasons, many customers are likely to opt for Earlyna instead of clementines that require degreening processes, due to its superior commercial behaviour and lower risk of deterioration.
