THERE may be a candle or two jammed into a certain brand of mandarin as it celebrates a decade of trade.
Nutrano Produce Group's Delite brand has marked its 10th anniversary in the Australian market.
It will be a welcome positive for the fruit which were severely hindered by a hail storm on a key farm last year.
Formed in 2009, Delite Growers Association is a collaboration of citrus growers who pioneered the seedless mandarin category with the Delite mandarin program.
The seedless mandarin is grown and underpinned by strict quality criteria to ensure a consistent eating experience that's "sweet, juicy, easy to peel".
Nutrano Produce Group farming operation manager Tania Chapman said the Delite Growers Association is expecting a bumper crop this season.
"This year we are expecting to pick around 30 million pieces of fruit across our grower network," she said.
"Last year's hail event on our first to market farm was devastating to lose our precious crop.
"Following a big clean up from our farm team and heavy pruning to rejuvenate growth, this season will see recovery crop from this farm.
"Our WA-Grown Delite program continues to go from strength to strength with more trees coming into production this season to support a 100 per cent WA Grown Delite program for shoppers in Western Australia."
RELATED READING
To mark the occasion, Nutrano Produce Group has promoted the mandarin with a focus on "winning snacking occasions", based on the growing demand from Aussie consumers looking for healthy options to fuel their busy daily lives.
Delite is also a sponsor of #PlateForAMate this year, a community awareness campaign now in its third year, raising funds for the Black Dog Institute.
This year the focus is on supporting the mental health of farmers, and communities in regional areas devastated by recent natural disasters.
With an A-list line up of chefs and Aussie icons cooking a range of dishes using Delite mandarins to support the cause.
Nutrano Produce Group operates more than 2000 hectares of farms and facilities in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
It employs more than 300 people, and 600 during peak season.
Sign up here to Good Fruit and Vegetables weekly newsletter for all the latest horticulture news each Thursday...
