Mercadona, a prominent physical supermarket and online retailer, concludes its 2022/23 citrus campaign today. The campaign highlights Spain as the source for orange and tangerine products, with a purchase balance exceeding 196,000 tons. Overall in the 22/23 period, Mercadona procured more than 200,000 tons of citrus from Spain, including around 140,000 tons of oranges. Tangerines accounted for about 56,000 tons and lemons for roughly 17,000 tons. Mercadona remains firmly committed to the primary sector, prioritizing stable and transparent relationships with customers. The company collaborates with more than 25 national suppliers and works with more than 2,500 farmers across Spain. This approach has resulted in over 85% of the total oranges sold by Mercadona being of domestic origin in recent years.
New campaign in October
From mid-August through late October, Mercadona customers will have the chance to purchase oranges from origins beyond Spain, with Spanish oranges resuming availability in the first week of October as the citrus cycle restarts and lemons and tangerines return to the stores.
Mercadona will continue to feature several national citrus varieties throughout October and will progressively reintroduce Spanish oranges across the full supply chain at the start of November.
Promoting citrus, fruit and vegetable consumption seasonally
The company supports seasonal citrus consumption. Freshly squeezed orange juice is offered in three container sizes—250 milliliters, 500 milliliters, and 1 liter—in the Fruit and Vegetable section. This service, which began rolling out to all stores in 2016, was the result of a joint venture involving Mercadona, a specialist supplier, and customers.
Citrus fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and their inclusion supports a balanced diet. Oranges, mandarins, and lemons, along with other citrus varieties, serve as reliable additions to a well-balanced shopping cart.
Mercadona endorses the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food campaigns promoting Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables. The company also advocates fair trade practices and adheres to a Code of Good Business Practices in the Food Supply. This voluntary agreement expands ongoing efforts to improve the functioning of the food chain and is supported by MAPA in collaboration with various associations throughout Spain’s agri-food sector.