Munoz
Discovered by a Spanish grower while walking through his farm in Valencia, and developed in conjunction with Citrus Genesis
The Muñoz Group has unveiled a new, season-extending satsuma.
The new Belalate satsuma is an ultra late variant of the Owari satsuma variety.
It was discovered by Spanish grower Pepe Beltran whilst walking through his farm in Valencia, and has been developed in conjunction with leading varietal specialist company Citrus Genesis.
As the fruit arrives some three to four weeks later than the traditional Owari variety, it will extend the season delivering the same attributes which have made satsumas such a popular citrus product in the UK.
The fruit has a rich orange colour, sweet flavour, is very easy to peel and totally seedless. As it develops later on the tree, the benefits are that the skin is thicker and firmer; it does not require degreening therefore giving a stronger and fresher product with a longer shelf life for the customer.
David Alba, director of Citrus Genesis, said: “This new variety of satsuma represents a significant breakthrough for growers, retailers and customers alike. There have historically been gaps in the satsuma supply in both January and February and mid-July to mid-September.
“Belalate will, once established volumes are in production worldwide, provide an all-year-round supply. It’s a first for true satsumas which are held in high regard by the British public.”
The Belalate satsuma will only be available in Tesco and M&S.
New facility is being designed around MM (UK) and MM Flowers’ future plans, and incorporates the latest processes, techniques and features.
A move to a new hi-tech site with more space for R&D would “sustain and secure” the future of Muñoz Group subsidiaries MM (UK) and MM Flowers.
The plans are still in the development stage, with Muñoz Group first needing to get planning permission from Huntingdonshire District Council before it purchases the land it requires for the development.
The proposed relocation to the site on an old military airfield at Alconbury Weald in Cambridgeshire may also see the closure of the firms’ operations at their present office in nearby Chatteris “in their entirety”.
As for where this would leave current employees based there, Andrew West, head of human resources at MM (UK) and MM Flowers, told FPJ: “We hope to be able to offer suitable alternative roles to as many of our Chatteris staff as possible, and we have chosen the new location because it should be a commutable distance – only 20 minutes from the current location – to travel for the majority of our current employees.”
Describing the plans in more detail, West said: “The new facility is being designed around our future plans, and incorporates the latest processes and techniques. It has also been designed around our people and the way we work to create a great working environment.
“In order to grow we need to retain the team that have got us to where we are, and also attract the best and brightest talent, and we believe the new site will enhance our ability to do this. The decision to relocate and design a bespoke solution has also been driven by a requirement to provide our customers with transparent supply chain solutions that step change quality for the consumer.”
He also cited the benefits the business will get from the mooted move in terms of the new site providing greater opportunity for economies of scale, and more assurances on “cold chain integrity”.
However, he dismissed local media reports that the new facility – which it is working towards getting with property development firm Urban and Civic, which is in charge of developing the site in question – will create 500 new jobs as erroneous.
West said the Chatteris base does not give the business the space and flexibility it needs to deliver its strategic plans for the future, and noted that Alconbury Weald is closer to the main transport arteries of the A14 and A1(M).
The Tesco-dedicated fruit supplier AMT Fruit in Newmarket would not be affected by the move, which West hopes to have completed by the end of summer 2016