Tuesday 11th February was a change of climate for our Commercial, Citrus Procurement and Technical Managers. Away from the cold of the UK, a day in the sunshine and 28°c was a treat! Inviting one of our biggest customers to one of our longstanding Citrus suppliers, Les Domaines Agricoles in Morocco.
It was a busy but fun trip, with an initial visit to the pack house for a tour, then onto their nursery where 1/3rd of all Moroccan citrus trees start their life (750,000 on site at any one time). Then onto one of the orchards for lunch and a farm tour. It was fascinating to learn about their orchard husbandry, tree grafting process and all the great work with regards to people and water reduction. The day finished with an invitation from Les Domaines to dinner at a local restaurant in Agadir Marina.
Having worked with Les Domaines for 20 plus years, forming a very well managed and loyal relationship, we were confident that our customer would be pleasantly surprised by this wonderful set up. They are one of our Northern Hemisphere suppliers of the ‘Nadorcott’ mandarin which is is a patented variety that originated in Morocco. It was developed by the ‘Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique’ (INRA) in the 1990s. The variety is one of the most favoured seedless varieties, known for its delectable sweet taste and is incredibly aromatic. These little gems thrive in Mediterranean and subtropical climates with warm days, cool nights, and well-drained soils.
Les Domaines Agricoles is a leading Moroccan agricultural company with a strong specialisation in citrus production.The company is renowned for its high-quality citrus fruits, particularly oranges and clementines, which are exported globally. Famed for its Berkane Clementines, named after the Berkane region in northeastern Morocco. These clementines are seedless, easy to peel, and known for their sweet flavour and vibrant colour.
The company’s citrus orchards are primarily located in Morocco’s fertile regions, such as Berkane and Gharb, which benefit from a Mediterranean climate ideal for citrus cultivation.These regions offer optimal conditions, including abundant sunshine, moderate rainfall, and well-drained soils. The company plays a vital role in Morocco’s agricultural economy, contributing significantly to the country’s citrus exports. It provides employment opportunities and supports rural development in the regions where it operates.
A huge thankyou goes out to Matt, Simon and all the team at Les Domaines for making us feel very welcome and supporting us with this visit.