Zamora Citrus exports organic lemon to the United States
2022 saw the opening of the United States market for organic lemons from Argentina under the National Organic Program that regulates the management and labeling of products exported to the US. This allowed Zamora Citrus to export 30 fruit containers. “We account for 50% of the certified organic production, and for three years, we’ve been exporting organic lemons to Canada. In the case of the United States, it was necessary for both countries to sign the agreement, which has now allowed us to be one of the few companies to export organic fruit under this protocol,” said Luciana Zamora. The firm has also built new infrastructure, with a new separate packing area for organic fruit and a new cargo dock, where the fruit is loaded onto containers and shipped via Chile to reach the port of Philadelphia in 20 days.
The company has produced and exported lemons with 0 residue to the European Union for 14 years and aims to have 80% of its organic certified farms in the next two years, with a view to opening new markets. “We are working together with organisations in Argentina to validate the organic lemon protocol in line with the corresponding certification of the European Union,” said Zamora.
It should be noted that demand for the next campaign is already 400% higher than this year’s export volume.
Export Innovation Award
Zamora Citrus was also awarded by the Argentine International Investment and Commerce Agency (AAICI) the “Innovation in Export 2022” prize which recognises companies exporting innovative products or services.
Pioneer in Fair Trade
Zamora Citrus also became the first Argentine lemon firm to be certified Fair Trade. “The certification took us more than a year since we’re the first lemon export producers in Tucumán to get certified and had no one to refer to. This is a very important step to meet the demands of the main supermarket chains. Our lemons are what we have always wanted them to be: sustainable, organic and socially responsible,” said Luciana Zamora.
New products: lime and avocado
For years, the company has been diversifying its offer and is now focusing on two new crops: limes and avocados. In terms of limes, both conventional and organic, the next step is export. While in the case of avocados, as demand in the domestic market is high they will be sold there for now. In any case, Zamora Citrus aims to increase its production area in the coming years and will consider the possibility of exporting. In both cases, the company is specialising to offer its customers a range of premium products.
