Cyprus

Additional Climatic Details

Climatic hazards include hot summer and fall winds from Africa, periods of drought, and occasional light frost. Frost defoliated some trees and froze some fruit in January of 1949 and 1950.

The major commercial varieties of citrus grown are the Shamouti and Valencia oranges, Marsh Seedless grapefruit and a local sour lemon called Lapithos (a seedless fruit resembling the Lisbon). The Shamouti orange, introduced form Palestine in 1864, is exported as the “Cyprus Oval”. There is also some production for domestic consumption of the seedy Beladi, and acidless orange, and such mandarins as the Clementine, Temple, and varieties of the Satsuma group.

Citrus blooms in March and April. Grapefruit and Shamouti oranges are exported from November to March, Valencia oranges from February to May, and lemons from October to April. All citrus is irrigated by basins or sprinklers; nearly all water is pumped. Cypress windbreaks are used in some areas. Cultivation ranges from the use of hand tools and animal-drawn implements in small groves to mechanical tillage in large groves.

Soils are generally light and both manure and nitrates are used as fertilizers. Groves are closely planted, some containing more than 150 trees to the acre. The major rootstocks are the sour orange and sweet lime.

Serious pests in Cyprus citrus groves are the Mediterranean fruit fly, Florida red scale, rust mite, citrus bud mite and the carob moth, which attacks grapefruit.

In 1960, citrus juice exports consisted of about 600 metric tons of orange juice in large containers, about 700 metric tons of orange juice in small containers (less than 1 liter); 37 tons of concentrated lemon juice; and 300 metric tons of grapefruit juice in small containers. Most orange juice was sweetened.

About half of juice exports are canned single-strength. Because of the fine quality of Algerian fresh citrus and the types of varieties produced, processing will probably continue to be of minor significance.