Premium produce · Citrus
Bulk citrus sourcing: variety, size count and treatment rules by destination
How do buyers source citrus in bulk?
Specify bulk citrus by type and variety (for example navel or Valencia oranges, mandarins, lemons), size count per carton, colour, juice content or Brix/acid ratio where your customer sets one, coating and post-harvest treatments your market accepts, pack, and arrival window. USDA reports that South Africa's export season typically starts around week 16 (April) with navels and week 21 (May) with Valencias and ends around week 45 (November).
What “premium” means in a wholesale citrus specification
- One variety per pallet with consistent size count
- Colour, skin finish and juice or Brix/acid requirements stated up front
- Coatings and post-harvest treatments declared and accepted by your market
- Low decay tolerance after the voyage
Type and variety
Oranges, mandarins, lemons and grapefruit are separate programmes, and each has early, mid and late varieties. Name the variety or variety group and whether alternates are accepted as one variety ends and another begins.
Grade and reference standard
UNECE FFV-14 (citrus fruit, 2025 edition). The UNECE citrus standard sets minimum requirements, maturity, colour, sizing, classes and tolerances. State the standard or customer specification and any limits on treatments and coatings. UNECE standards list
Origin and season — what the sources say
South Africa · April–November
The export season typically starts around week 16 (April) with navels and week 21 (May) with Valencia oranges, and concludes around week 45 (November). About 81% of exports ship through Durban.
Northern-hemisphere origins supply the opposite part of the year. Ask exporters for weekly volume by variety and confirm any cold-treatment protocol your destination applies to the origin.
Citrus specification worksheet
Fill what you know; leave the rest blank. Your answers are copied into the request form for you to check — nothing is sent from this page, and no supplier is promised to meet every point.
Blank fields stay blank in the form.
Cold chain and packing
- Agree the carrying temperature per variety and voyage
- Confirm any in-transit cold treatment required by your destination
- Ask for loggers and who reads them on arrival
- Allow for degreening or storage only if your market accepts it
Documents to check
- Phytosanitary certificate and any cold-treatment record required
- Declaration of post-harvest treatments and coatings applied
- Residue limits your destination applies — confirm with your broker
- Food-safety certificates your buyers require
Global B2B Group is committed to conducting its own activities in accordance with applicable law. It facilitates sourcing and RFQs and does not itself produce, manufacture, export or sell the listed products, or approve them on behalf of any authority. Suppliers are responsible for the products and shipments they offer and supply meeting the requirements of the origin and destination countries — for example safety, quality, labelling, traceability, sanitary or phytosanitary certificates and export documents, where relevant. Buyers remain responsible for their own import permissions, local requirements and due diligence. Requirements differ by product and country; this is not legal advice. Compliance & responsibilities · Terms
How our team evaluates supply options
After review, our team asks suitable suppliers to quote on your specification and to evidence the points below. Not every supplier can meet every specification; offers that differ are shown as alternatives, not ranked as equivalents. You decide which, if any, to take forward — introductions happen only with your approval.
- Weekly volume by variety for your window
- Treatments and coatings they apply and can avoid
- Cold-treatment capability where your destination requires it
- Arrival-quality records from earlier seasons
Prices are provided after your specification is reviewed; we do not publish citrus prices or stock.
Searching for one of these?
Common buyer searches this page answers: bulk citrus supplier · South Africa oranges April–November · mandarins wholesale import programme · lemons by container sourcing.
Buyer questions
- When does South Africa export citrus?
- USDA reports that the export season typically starts around week 16 (April) with navels and week 21 (May) with Valencias, and ends around week 45 (November).
- What should a citrus RFQ say about wax and treatments?
- State which coatings and post-harvest treatments your market and customers accept, and ask suppliers to declare what they apply. Rules differ by destination.
- Can you send me a citrus price list?
- No. Global B2B Group does not publish prices. Pricing is provided after our team reviews your specification and suppliers respond.
Guides and other premium products
Submit your citrus requirements
Free for buyers. Assisted sourcing from USD 250,000 per year or season; smaller requests stay on file without supplier outreach. Global B2B Group is not a grower, exporter, importer or seller — suppliers remain responsible for product, compliance and documents.
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