Citrus fruit report.pdf

UK Harmonisation Meeting 2012
Specific Marketing Standard – Citrus fruit
Presented by Sam Gray
Objective –.To discuss new defect in standard ‘progressive defects’ and UK interpretative
present limits in class I and II. Discuss Peteca affected fruit. Agreement concerning variety
nadorcott is a late mandarin variety.
Discussion
1. UK interpretative note – issued to delegates
2. ‘Progressive defects’ – Powerpoint shown with progressive skin defects, using the
OECD citrus brochure as a guide
3. Peteca – A sample of fruit affected by peteca
4. Raphael Jaén Tapiola of Spain made a short presentation seeking clarity in respect of
the Nadorcott variety of soft citrus
Outcome – a power-point of citrus defects was shown of various progressive skin defects. It
was felt oleocellosis was not a progressive skin defect but broad agreement that UK
interpretation of limits were suitable 2cm² in class I and 4cm²
Agreement that chilling skin damage limited to 1 or 2 small spots in class I was acceptable.
Most agreed that the photo below had too much chilling damage for class II and was out of
grade. Some delegates suggested up to 5 small chill spots would be acceptable in class II

Peteca. Wide agreement that no peteca affected fruit allowed in class I but up to 2 small spots
were allowed in class II as long as they were shallow spots. Several fruit were cut and showed
that deep spots affected more of the flavedo layer but also the albedo pith layer. Some felt
peteca should only be permissible under tolerance in each class.
Ageing fruit were passed round delegates who all agreed were out of grade due to the soft
texture of skin.
Granulation
Some late season tropical fruit were cut but only very small amounts of granulation were seen
Internal granulation or premature fruit drying agreed by all was unacceptable and out of grade
Raphael Jaén Tapiola of Spain made a short presentation seeking clarity in respect of the
Nadorcott variety of soft citrus. Pressure from suppliers in the UK on packers to label the
Nadorcott variety a Clementine to assist customer choice, clementine variety are considered
seedless but not mandarins. It was agreed by delegates it is not in the gift of member states to
change the classification of mandarins to clementines. A Spanish website showed which group
each variety of citrus belonged.
www.ivia.es/variedades/