Spring Sunshine Mandarin Variety Producers Association established
Following the success of its predecessor, the Orri Running Committee (ORC), an association has been created to protect the Spring Sunshine variety. As in the case of the ORC, the new Association of Producers Spring Sunshine Running Committee (SRC) is a non-profit association whose main objectives are the control, defence, and promotion of an exclusive variety of premium mandarin.
Although the legal production of Spring Sunshine in Spain is still in its infancy, as it is only the second campaign since the regularisation and sale of new sub-licenses began, the marketing of the fruit has been a success this campaign, reaching record prices of above €0.80/Kg in the field. Its excellent product quality has attracted the attention of new distribution chains that have been fascinated by the unique flavour of this mandarin, considered by many to be the best on the market.
The promotion of this exceptional variety began in April 2018, when it was first presented to the public. Since then demand has risen exponentially, with more than 250,000 plants of the Spring Sunshine variety already licensed, exceeding the 500 hectares authorised in Spain.
The SRC has already initiated contacts with some of the main European distribution chains and, through different campaigns, will inform them about the extraordinary intrinsic qualities of the variety, in addition to advising them on its correct identification and labelling.
Meanwhile, the SRC has also reached collaboration agreements with technical experts, universities and research centres to obtain specific cultivation protocols that help its associates to improve production techniques and thereby maximise yields.
In the fight against varietal piracy, which has been targeting the Spring Sunshine variety due to its high value within the mandarins of its category, the SRC will carry out multiple audits control, supervise the identification system of the variety to guarantee legitimate origin, and implement a geolocation system for all farms with licensed production, among other actions.
