Why Australia’s favourite winter fruit is getting much harder to buy
If you’ve struggled to find your favourite mandarins in supermarkets lately, you aren’t alone. Unfavourable weather has hit Australia’s winter crop of Imperial mandarins hard, leaving retailers falling short of normal supplies.
Anton van den Berg from community wholesale fruit supplier Box Divvy has described this year’s mandarin season as “patchy”.
This year’s mandarin season has been described as ‘patchy’. Jo Abi
“Imperial mandarins, which normally sell well into August, appear to be coming to an end, so that will put more pressure on Afourers and Murcotts to carry the rest of the season,” van den Berg explained.
Imperial mandarins are Australia’s most popular variety. They usually arrive in supermarkets around April and May, giving them a head start on other varieties. Their thin, loose skin makes them exceptionally easy to peel, making them a family-friendly choice for parents. They also typically feature a sweeter flavour and fewer seeds than other varieties.
However, that thin skin also leaves Imperials particularly susceptible to harsh weather conditions.
Imperial and Murcott mandarins are currently in season. Jo Abi
Extreme weather conditions in growing regions
Major growing areas like South Australia’s Riverland and parts of Queensland have faced severe weather extremes over recent months. Periods of extreme summer heatwaves followed by cold, wet winter conditions disrupted the essential flowering and fruit-setting process.
Moisture on the trees further restricted picking schedules, as harvesting wet citrus damages the delicate skin and slows down distribution to supermarkets. On top of the wet conditions, wind damage left crops blemished and far more difficult to sell to major retail chains.
Afourers and Murcotts fill the void
With Imperial stocks drying up, other varieties of mandarins are being stocked in their place, though van den Berg explained each brings its own quirks.
Other varieties of mandarins are filling the void left by Imperials. iStock
“Murcotts are good early in the season, as they are still low in seed, but as the season progresses, they’ll get more and more seedy. So Afourers are it,” he said.
“That’s not a bad thing: they’re very sweet with literally no seeds, so that alone makes them popular with kids. The only real advantage that Imperials have is that they are easier to peel, but they usually have a few seeds. Yuck.”
Box Divvy is currently selling Afourer mandarins for around $3 a kilo, while dwindling Imperial stocks are sitting at just under $4 a kilo.
Coles, Woolworths and Aldi don’t have a shortage of mandarin varieties, aside from the shorter Imperial season. Coles is selling Imperial mandarins for $3.90 per kilo, and Aldi has them priced at $3.99. Woolworths doesn’t appear to have Imperial mandarins in stock, according to their website.
A Coles spokesperson confirmed to nine.com.au: “Customers may find their favourite mandarin variety isn’t in abundance for a short period, as seasonal growing conditions continue to impact supply. However, there is still a range of mandarin varieties available in our stores and online.
“We’re working closely with our growers and suppliers to support them through these challenging conditions while maintaining the best possible availability for our customers.”
Coles is selling Afourer, Murcott and Royal Honey mandarin varieties. Woolworths has in stock Amorette, Afourer, Tangold, and Phoenix, and Aldi is stocking Clementine mandarins, Tangold and Honey Murcott.
Oranges and other citrus
Mandarins are not the only citrus category impacted by adverse weather and market shifts. Oranges have also taken a hit, as van den Berg explained.
Mandarins are not the only citrus category impacted by adverse weather. Nine
“Last year was a great time for Cara Cara oranges. This is a sub-variety of Navels, but sweeter and with a more intense colour,” he said.
“It is a typical boom-and-bust scenario: because of last year’s over-supply, prices were low and growers didn’t make much money. So what do they do? Pull out some trees, reduce fertilising levels and yield, and bingo: supply is tight and prices are a lot higher now.”
As a result, regular Navels offer the best value right now at under $2 a kilo, while Cara Caras sit closer to $3 a kilo.
The best value produce this week
Lemons are enjoying a bumper seasons, but limes are scarce. Jo Abi
While limes are currently out of season and setting shoppers back well over $10 a kilo, other citrus fruits are having a massive moment.
Lemons are the undeniable hero in supermarkets right now, remaining extremely affordable and abundant. Good quality fruit is selling for under $3 a kilo, or around 50 cents a piece.
For bargain hunters looking across the whole fruit aisle, van den Berg notes the absolute best value buys this week are lemons, Afourer mandarins, Nashi pears and small strawberries.
Coles’ spokesperson added: “Customers can also enjoy an abundant supply of other delicious Australian citrus in our stores, including navel, Cara Cara and blood oranges, as well as lemons.”
