Summer is the season of impulse items galore, from cherries to melons to stone fruit, but you know your customers will still want their shopping list staples to go along with their seasonal favorites.
One such item is citrus – particularly this year, of course, with heightened awareness of the importance of supporting the immune system and the role of vitamin C.
Chile is a key supplier of citrus for the U.S. in the summer months. According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, 40% of imported fresh oranges come from Chile, and so do 42% of fresh mandarins and 39% of fresh lemons.
Most of the citrus from Chile comes from five growing regions: Coquimbo, Valparaiso, Santiago, O'Higgins and Atacama. You can find more information about all 10 growing regions of Chile at FruitsFromChile.com, the website of the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association. Below is a breakdown of how much citrus comes from which regions and when they are available.
