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We provide high quality Ethiopia citrus fruits to the local and export market. We source Ethiopia citrus from family growers in the country.

Ethiopia citrus describes the family of acidic, vitamin-C and ascorbic acid-rich fruits that include lime, orange, lemon and grapefruit. Though the different fruits have their separate production volumes, when combined, they bring the country around 51,888 metric tons, using 2014 data. There is ongoing fluctuation, especially in orange, which rises and dips suddenly. This has created market opportunity for would-be buyers who sell at high prices. The plants grow in the rainy south and southern western parts of the country. The northwestern parts are also other major orchard areas.

The coming of citrus to Ethiopia was partially through the Italian campaign of 1937 before the outbreak of World War II. Italian soldiers would carry especially limes and lemons to keep diseases at bay. By 1985, the fruits had flourished in the farms to reach 7290 ha. This has reduced significantly to three-quarters of that land base due to urban migration but the country is still a powerhouse of the great citrus family.

We offer the following four citrus fruits:

Lime

Lime ( (Citrus aurantifolia)) is the best known citrus fruit that grows in Ethiopia. With an origin in south Asia, particularly India, the fruit grows in the warm, tropical climate of the horn of Africa nation at 1000 meters above sea level. Because of its great resilience to heat, it develops wildly in semi arid areas. It grows into close resemblance between an unripe orange and a mature lemon. The Ethiopia lime is usually in a shiny greenish color with a fruit diameter of at least 6 centimeters. To the tongue, the fruit is quite juicy but sour.

Ethiopia lime has been a traditional citrus fruit in Ethiopia since its origination from India. It is as popular as the lemon for its medicinal qualities. Ethiopians usually suck into the acidic pulp of the fruit. They also clean meat using the drops from the flesh of the lime. In some cases, people substitute lime for lemon to cure acne and other skin disorders.

By 2015, lime in Upper Awash Valley and elsewhere averaged at around 1100ha combined with lemon.

Orange

Orange fluctuates more than lime in the Addis Ababa market due to changes in supply and demand. A kilo of the succulent fruit can go to as high as 16 birr ($0.58) but it averages at around 7 birr ($0.2) when in good supply. This happens whenever there is low supply from the Dire Dawa farming belts as well as Upper Awash Valley.

By 2015, orange hectarage was at least 2200, which may have increased significantly.

In a good year, an orchard can reach twenty five thousand oranges for each acre. This can improve with grafted varieties that can produce double that figure. However, due to concerns about organic, quality oranges, family growers in Ethiopia produce only a portion of the above figures.

Lemon

The lemon is popular in Ethiopia as a romantic method of securing a wife. In weddings, people throw the fruits at one another as an indication of love, particularly around January, the year’s wedding time.

It is not hard to find a reason for the popularity of Ethiopia lemon. Its pectin fiber that comes from the squeezed juice keeps the weight down. This same fiber also works on the cholesterol levels by burning bad cholesterol fat away. It is also a great beauty product which acts as an organic skin brightener.

The main Ethiopia lemon growing areas include Melkassa to the southeast and Upper Awash Valley in the center of the country. At least 1100ha of lime and lemon combined were available in Ethiopia in 2015.

Packing

Citrus are perishable fruits and require maximum care when packing. We follow phytosanitary and hygienic means of handling. The fruits are packed in ventilated cartons with careful alignment of pallets so as not to obscure the air openings. The carton sizes differ for diverse fruits. We pack oranges in 5, 10 and 15 kilo cartons with openings. Lemons go under large cartons of 7 and 15 kilos. Shipping to Europe requires a carton that is ‘open top’ design. For the other markets, including the Middle-east, we pack all types and sizes as they are readily acceptable.

So, if you bare looking for fair value for your Ethiopia citrus, just make an order with us and we will guarantee quality, timeliness and price competitiveness. Price, in particular, is quite fair considering the fluctuation of the citrus supply chain in the the country. You can expect your shipment to arrive a day or two after shipment by Ethiopian Airlines. Keep in touch today or make an order!