Neretva Valley mandarin harvest challenges

The 2026 mandarin harvest in the Neretva Valley has been impacted by maturity concerns and environmental challenges. Initially, the Mandarin Commission of Dubrovnik-Neretva County issued harvest recommendations after physical-chemical analyses showed that only a small portion of tested samples met required maturity standards.

As the season progressed, producers reported a significant decline in total yields due to prolonged drought and intense heat, which scorched fruit. While earlier estimates suggested production would reach 45,000 tons, recent projections from officials indicate a lower yield of between 35,000 and 40,000 tons. Although a drop in temperatures has reportedly improved juice content and aided ripening, ripening rates vary across production areas, necessitating adjusted harvest schedules.

The harvest has officially begun in Opuzen, marked by officials including County Prefect Blaž Pezo and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries David Vlajčić. To protect the crop, the state has allocated 1,000,000 EUR to combat the Mediterranean fruit fly, the region’s primary pest. This funding includes 506,000 EUR for the procurement of sterile males, with deliveries expected by September 25, and 300,000 EUR for local sanitation and control measures. Officials have emphasized the necessity of coordinated efforts between local government and producers to protect the citrus industry.

Farmers continue to face rising production costs, labor shortages, and competition from imported fruit. For first-class fruit, purchase centers pay between 65 and 70 cents per kilogram, while second-class fruit fetches 25 cents. After accounting for small-caliber fruit, the average realized price is estimated between 45 and 50 cents per kilogram.