Good morning!
Today I'm here to tell you why we will no longer be sending more table oranges this season. I'll warn you upfront that it's a delicate matter.
However, first, to start the day off right, I'll share some very good news: we now have Antonio's blackberries available on the website.
And they are the kind that leave your fingers stained dark and the sweet taste lingering in your mouth...
But with that said, let's get to what I want to tell you.
I'd like you to imagine me telling you this at the entrance to the field, my hands still smelling of orange blossom.
Around this time, the Mediterranean fruit fly starts lurking. It's not just any fly. It's a clever one that goes straight for ripe fruit, punctures it, and lays its eggs inside. From these, worms emerge that wreak havoc on the pulp.
And it has a double trick.
First, the bite leaves a tiny hole that is barely visible from the outside, but it opens the door for fungi to enter.
Second, when those eggs hatch, they eat the inside of the orange as if it were a buffet. On the outside, the orange looks perfectly fine, but inside, the party has already started.
And the worst part is that many times this mess is not noticeable the day you pick it from the tree; it appears a few days later.
And we don't want you to be the one to discover it.
At this point, I'll tell you the truth without beating around the bush. This is already a difficult time. If one wanted to stretch the season at all costs, they would have to rely on very heavy treatments that are not consistent with our way of working.
We cultivate as our grandparents did, harvest to order every morning, and ship directly from the tree to your home. That commitment also implies knowing when to stop in time.
And in this case, it's time for the table oranges to stop.
There is good fruit, of course. On the tree, there are pieces that are delicious today. But there's a world of difference between what is good to eat and what can travel well without failing.
Right now, the balance has tipped, and we prefer to stop sending and accept that part of the harvest is lost rather than play roulette with your box. We don't want you to get a bad one, not even once.
This is common practice in our work, although I confess it still affects us.
It hurts to see beautiful oranges remaining on the tree, but it's more honest that you always receive the best. In the field, we live with these decisions every year.
We continue to support you with artisan fruits and vegetables that we harvest to order with fellow farmers throughout Spain.
And above all, we are already looking to the future. The orange trees are patient; they are already preparing for the next bloom.
The first table oranges of the new season will return, and they will do so with that mix of sweetness and acidity that we love so much.
We will continue to care for the trees with the same love as always so that, when the time comes, you open the box and they smell like a real field.
Thank you for understanding and for supporting Spanish agriculture.
A big hug from the Valencian orchard,
