Following a 17-year absence on the US market, Argentina’s lemon exporters, whose standard of quality has been audited under the ALL LEMON seal since 2010, will be attending next week’s PMA Fresh Summit 2018.
The historic presence celebrates both the long-awaited return of Argentine lemons to the US market and a successful 2018 crop that saw larger volumes, higher levels of certified fruit and new markets conquered, due in part to the support of ACNOA, the Citrus Association of the North West of Argentina that promotes the sustainability of the region’s economic activity.
The quality of this year’s crop was superior to the previous season thanks to favourable weather conditions, and an increase in the frequency of quality control monitoring carried out by ALL LEMON in the 29 packhouses and 17 associated companies audited by the quality seal. The inspectors, working in pairs, carried out on-the-spot visits every eight hours throughout the day and also into the night in order to ensure the very best results, and to guarantee a full and comprehensive audit of the boxes destined for export.
“This season saw new companies joining ALL LEMON and new markets importing our product. We realised it was extremely important to push ourselves further than ever before, to go the extra mile in order to do the absolute utmost for our clients to supply them with the right volumes and the right quality,” explains Diego Decima of Frutucumán, Argentine lemon exporter and ALL LEMON member.
The companies certified by ALL LEMON are: Argenti Lemon, Cauquén, Cecilia Martínez Zuccardi, Citromax, Citrusvil, Diagonal Citrus, Early Crop. F.G.F. Trapani, Frutucumán, Juan Sigstad SRL, La Moraleja SA, Lapacho Amarillo, La Patria SRL, Latin Lemon, Ledesma, Pablo Padilla and San Miguel. Together these companies export over 80 per cent of all the lemons produced in Argentina.
This year, ALL LEMON also achieved the internationally recognised and audited SGS quality management ISO 9001-2015 standard. This standard is known for being even more demanding than the 2008 version, against which the group had measured its quality controls since 2014.
“Quality is the single most appreciated element for any client, and, as such, it is the main objective that a supplier strives for,” says Francisco Rotella of exporter Citrusvil. “To be able to say that we now comply with ISO 9001-2015 is reassuring for both parties.”
The USA and Japan, new markets for Argentine lemons
Following a 17 year absence, Argentine lemons have returned to the US market, with satisfactory exports taking place throughout the 2018 season. Some 10,640 tonnes were sent in total from 13 companies based in Tucumán – the leading province for lemon production in the north of Argentina. The exporting companies were: Argenti Lemon, Arbolar, Citromax, Citrusvil, Diego Zamora e Hijos SRL, Early Crop, F.G.F. Trapani, Frutucumán, Latin Lemon, Magnifresh, Pablo Padilla S.A., Veracruz and San Miguel.
ALL LEMON was the institution responsible for controlling the quality of the shipped lemons, including fruit belonging to a number of companies who are not currently associated to the quality seal scheme. The quality requirements requested by the US market were especially demanding.
Argentina also sent lemons for the first time to Japan this year, with initial shipments carried out by F.G.F. Trapani and audited by ALL LEMON. This market, one of the most exacting in Asia, is known for its stringent quality requirements.
“This season taught us so much. Through a great effort, much coordination and a strong degree of professionalism we managed to achieve our objective of meeting national and international demand, contributing at the same time to the sustainability of the economy of the north west of Argentina,” states Pablo Padilla of ACNOA.
“This particular campaign required the involvement and collaboration of multiple players in order for us to achieve our goals. We are extremely proud to confirm that we managed to meet all of our objectives.”
For the first time, ACNOA and ALL LEMON are exhibiting jointly at the PMA Fresh Summit 2018 on 19-20 October / Booth 2661.
