Leading suppliers within Argentina's fresh lemon business have come together to establish an export standard, called ALL LEMON - Tested & Certified for Export, in a bid to guarantee the highest quality lemons for markets worldwide.

The new seal will certify fruit on account of its high juice content, long shelf-life, firmness, freshness, uniform shape, balanced colour, unblemished peel, traceability and safety - characteristics which set apart Argentinean lemons from other producing regions, according to growers.

Some 11 of the country's biggest lemon suppliers are already involved in the initiative, including Argenti Lemon, Citrusvil, Citromax, Expofrut, FGF Trapani, Frutucumán, Ledesma, La Moraleja, Latin Lemon, Pablo Padilla and San Miguel.

"Lemons identified with the traditional Cat 1 and Cat 2 categories have uncommon characteristics," explained Pablo Lucci, director of Citrusvil.

"They have a high juice content, resistance to damage and durability, firmness, freshness, uniform shape, balanced colour, unblemished peel, traceability and safety. Lemons stamped with this seal provide full guarantee of quality. We firmly believe that this initiative will raise current export standards for Argentinean lemons."

"Argentina is one of the biggest exporters of lemons worldwide; therefore we believe it is essential, as existing companies start complying with established quality standards, to have new players in the industry who also comply with the quality seal," added Carlos Parravicini, general manager at Argenti Lemon.

In addition to the commitment to product quality, the exporters promoting the ALL LEMON - Tested & Certified for Export quality seal have also pledged to work jointly to enhance their reputation as socially responsible companies, committed to caring for the environment, the development of their employees and the surrounding communities.

Lemons are available from Argentina from March through October.

SOURCE: FRUITNET