Sweeter fruit comes with heftier price tag

Sweet gold: The first shipment of lokam from Fujian, China, arriving at Sunshine Square; (below) Yee. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

GEORGE TOWN: It’s a must-have for the Lunar New Year as its Chinese name “kam” rhymes with “gold”.

This year’s supply of mandarin oranges (lokam) is expected to be sweeter – but more expensive as well.

The drought in China has led to a big drop in production and a rise in prices, said Sunshine Wholesale Mart Sdn Bhd director Yee Kam Ming (pic).

“The fruits are also ripening earlier than usual due to warmer weather at the farms,” he said.

He estimated that production had decreased by about 30% to 40% compared with the same period last year.

“XL and L size oranges made only 5% and 10%, respectively, of total production, and they are 20% costlier. M size oranges made up 25% of the total, but their price is also 20% higher,” he added.

He, however, said that for S and SS size oranges that make up 60% of total production, their prices had dropped by about 15% compared with last year.

Yee, who received the first shipment of 6,250 boxes of oranges at Sunshine Square in Bayan Baru, said they had confirmed 10 more shipments to come.

“This first container of oranges was harvested at the end of November from Fujian, Yongchun and Jian’Ou in China and they’re exclusively packed for us.

“We have confirmed 10 shipments to come in stages, but we are hoping to receive 15,” he added.

He said Teochew mandarin oranges from farms in Guangdong would arrive within a fortnight.