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Murcott mandarins: no export orders and domestic demand hit by COVID-19 and weather, urgent support needed

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COVID-19 impact 0213"Murcott mandarins in trouble, urgent support needed! Weather and the pandemic wreak havoc, no export orders and a blow to domestic demand

Affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the export of fruit grown for the domestic market has been disrupted, and after Taitung's pineapple and sugar apple, Murcott mandarins have also been hit.

More than a quarter of the Murcott mandarins grown domestically each year are sold to China. This year, due to weather conditions, Murcott mandarin production dropped and the number of B-grade fruit (less attractive in appearance but just as tasty) increased. Farmers had originally hoped that income from A-grade fruit (good-looking both outside and inside) would make up for the losses on B-grade fruit, but with the pandemic severe in China, all orders for sales to China have halted, and the original export volume has flowed back to the domestic market. However, domestic market buying sentiment has also fallen short of expectations because of the pandemic, and farmers lament, "This loss is more severe than a wind disaster."

The Tainan District Agricultural Research and Extension Station stated that Murcott mandarins are rich in nutrients such as high dietary fiber, vitamin C, organic acids and minerals. It is now the Murcott mandarin season, and eating more of them not only benefits health but also supports farmers in Taiwan. The agricultural authorities called on consumers to buy more, noting that although B-grade fruit does not look beautiful, its flesh tastes just as good.

Delicious and nutritious Murcott mandarins (photo courtesy of Lu Chun-wei)

The main domestic production areas for Murcott mandarins are Taichung and Yunlin-Chiayi, with nearly a quarter exported to China

The area planted with Murcott mandarins has grown year after year in recent years. Statistics from the Agriculture and Food Agency show that in 2018, the total production area of Murcott mandarins across Taiwan was 1771.34 hectares, with output of 32173.8 metric tons. Exports accounted for nearly 1/3 of that, totaling 10785 metric tons, of which 7798 metric tons were sold to China, meaning that nearly a quarter of all Murcott mandarins in Taiwan are exported to China.

The leading production areas for Murcott mandarins across Taiwan are Dongshi in Taichung, Gukeng in Yunlin, Douliu in Yunlin and Dalin in Chiayi. Among them, Dongshi in Taichung had a total Murcott mandarin output of 8453 metric tons in 2018, the highest in Taiwan, followed in order by Gukeng in Yunlin with 4357 metric tons, Douliu in Yunlin with 2606 metric tons and Dalin in Chiayi with 1429 metric tons.

"Murcott mandarins are harvested gradually from south to north. By the time we reach Taichung, the peak season for Murcott mandarins is roughly mid-February to April." Jiang Guo-hu, director of the promotion department of the Dongshi District Farmers' Association, said that before the Lantern Festival, most Murcott mandarins come from the south, especially Yunlin-Chiayi, but Murcott mandarins from the south do not store as well. Murcott mandarins from central Taiwan are harvested and first cold-stored and released gradually. In previous years, exports began gradually around mid-February, so Dongshi in Taichung is the main source of exported Murcott mandarins.

Dongshi District Farmers' Association: Weather led to an increase in B-grade fruit, while A-grade fruit was affected by the pandemic in both exports and domestic buying sentiment

Jiang Guo-hu said that with a lot of rain and low temperatures earlier on, Murcott mandarins also developed anthracnose this year, and it is estimated that Murcott mandarin production across Taiwan has dropped by about 30%. In previous years, the ratio of A-grade to B-grade fruit was 7:3; this year, the ratio of A-grade to B-grade fruit is about 6:4.

"The pandemic disrupted our plans." Jiang Guo-hu said that although the quantity of A-grade fruit is lower than in previous years, it was still enough to fill the original export orders. Farmers expected that although Murcott mandarin production had fallen and market prices would naturally rise enough to make up for losses, the emergence of the novel coronavirus reduced people's willingness to spend and sharply cut buying sentiment. Channel feedback is currently not optimistic, and sales of A-grade fruit already placed in channels are below expectations.

Wu Bao-lai, head of Team 81 of the Dongshi District Fruit Tree Production and Marketing Group in Taichung, said his group is a specialized Murcott mandarin production area with 21 members and annual output of more than one thousand metric tons. "In the past, at least half was exported; this year only the farmers' association came to place orders." Wu Bao-lai said that due to the impact of the pandemic in China, from after the Lunar New Year until now, they have only received 300 metric tons purchased by the farmers' association on commission from the Taichung City Government. Export traders visited the production area several times but placed no orders. So far, the group has shipped part of its fruit to the fruit and vegetable wholesale market, as well as a small amount for home delivery orders.

If production is down, why are there still sales problems? Farmers' association: The pandemic has affected consumption

Weather affected the appearance of the fruit, and then the pandemic wreaked havoc. Farmers lament being caught in a bind. "With (export) orders, there wouldn't be enough A-grade fruit to ship, but now there are no orders at all and domestic buying sentiment is poor, making it very hard to sell." "A-grade fruit won't move, B-grade fruit can only go to the auction market, and all group members are losing money. This loss is worse than a wind disaster." Wu Bao-lai said that Murcott mandarins are rarely processed, and B-grade fruit prices are poor. They have already reported the problem to the Agriculture and Food Agency and the agricultural research and extension station, hoping government agencies can help match them with sales channels.

Farmers unanimously said that Murcott mandarin production has fallen, but foreign orders have also decreased. Estimating domestic market demand at at least twenty thousand metric tons, in theory the domestic market should be able to absorb the existing Murcott mandarins. Why, then, are farmers encountering sales problems? In response, Jiang Guo-hu believes: "Under normal circumstances, it is estimated that domestic sales would not be affected, but the pandemic affects everyone's consumption behavior."

"In the year of SARS, buying sentiment from March to July was very poor, and it only rebounded in August." Jiang Guo-hu said that based on the experience of that SARS year, people go out shopping less frequently and spending power also declines, which is why farmers' sales are not going smoothly.

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