Citrus Growers Reject $14 Dollar Offer per Box of Grapefruit  

Is there trouble ahead in the citrus industry?  This morning, Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai shared dismal news coming from the south where farmers are refusing to deliver grapefruits to the factory because of prices being offered per box of fruit.

Jose Abelardo Mai

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture

“We are right now in the middle of the grapefruit harvest.  From the reports I am getting, it’s not looking well.  The yields are down, farmers are reporting to be clearing down their orchards.  It appears that the farmers are not satisfied with the price being paid.  The price being paid by the company now is fourteen dollars per box of citrus, orange and fourteen dollars for grapefruit.  Grapefruit began in early October, October, November, December.  We are in the middle of it right now, grapefruit, and farmers, it seems, are prepared to leave the fruits on the tree and not harvest at that cost.  They are saying that they cannot meet their expenses at fourteen dollars.”

Isani Cayetano

“What is this price predicated upon?”

Jose Abelardo Mai

“The price is based on the world market.  The world price has gone up, but the price has gone down for farmers has gone down compared to last year and so, farmers are not happy.  I have to meet them this week to look at what is actually happening.  The government, through DFC, had allocated monies to try to bring back the industry.  One is to rehabilitate existing farms and the other was to replant other tolerant varieties, but I am a little concerned for what is happening right now.”