In Cyprus from October till June one can find a wide variety of citrus fruits: oranges, lemons, grapefruits and mandoras, a fruit that combines mandarin and orange, both in size and taste. Mandora is a variety grown under that name only in Cyprus and consumed as a whole simply by peeling it or as a juice like the common orange.

The continuous efforts of the Cypriot producers / exporters to improve production, upgrade the production process and comply with quality standards of supermarkets, coupled with the intense entrepreneurship. These are the main reasons why the Cypriot citrus worthily compete in international markets.

Cyprus producers tend to specialize in crops and through their producer groups, most of which have been recognized in accordance with the Acquis Communautaire, achieved better production planning and coordination of marketing, distribution and promotion of products, as well as greater use of community and national funds.

Citrus, with an annual production of about 110,000 tons, of which 70,000 tons are for export purposes, now represent the largest source of foreign exchange in agriculture, after potatoes.

In recent years, the diversification of international demand has led to increase of production of kokkinosarkon grapefruit known as star ruby, alongside white marsh, while stable remains the production of valencia variety of oranges and lemons, which are recognized for their thin skin and their rich juice.

The products are available throughout the period of October to June, while their main market is the European Union, which absorbs about 85% of total exports.

LEMONS

PRINCIPAL VARIETIES: LAPITHOS, YURI, LISBON

SEASONAL AVAILABILITY: October – April

ORANGES

PRINCIPAL VARIETIES: NAVELS, SIAMOUTI, VALENCIA

SEASONAL AVAILABILITY ON THE MARKET: NAVELS (December – January) SIAMOUTI (February-March), Valencia (February – June).

GRAPEFRUITS

BASIC Varieties: WHITE MARSH, STAR RUBY, RIO RED

SEASONAL AVAILABILITY: October – May

TANGERINS

PRINCIPAL VARIETIES: CLEMENTINES, NOVA, MINNEOLA, MANDORA

Seasonal AVAILABILITY: CLEMENTINES, NOVA (November to January), MINNEOLA (December to February), MANDMANDORAORA (January – April)