Organic Grapefruit (Citrus Paradisi) Cultivation Program with Ecoganic Products

Introduction: Organic Grapefruit and its Value in the International Market

The organic grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) is a citrus fruit with high nutritional and commercial demand, especially in countries such as Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and the USA. Its cultivation under ecological management is growing rapidly, driven by the demand of European consumers for residue-free fruits, cultivated with environmental and social responsibility.

Producing grapefruit in an organic system involves applying precise agronomic strategies in nutrition, physiology, health, and post-harvest. Certified products such as those from Ecoganic allow compliance with international regulations such as Regulation (EU) 848/2018, NOP USDA certification, and fair trade standards.

In addition, entities such as FiBL and the European Commission for organic production recommend key practices such as balanced organic fertilization, biological disease prevention, and the use of residue-free biostimulants.

Agronomic Requirements and Physiology of Grapefruit

• Subtropical or warm-temperate climate.
• Needs well-drained soils, pH between 5.5 and 7.
• Sensitive to iron chlorosis, fruit cracking, and flower drop.
• High demand for potassium, calcium, and microelements.
• Long cycle: 8–10 months of fruit development.

Common Problems in Organic Grapefruit Cultivation

Cultivation Phases and Ecoganic Program

Phase 1: Budding and Vegetative Formation (February–April)

Phase 2: Flowering and Fruit Set (April–may)

Phase 3: Fruit Development and Fattening (June–September)

Phase 4: Maturation (October–November)

Phase 5: Post-harvest and Regeneration (November–January)

Post-harvest and Export to Europe

The organic grapefruit destined for Europe must comply with:

• Manual harvesting with clean cut.
• Classification according to color, firmness, and size.
• Washing with approved products (without chlorine).
• Avoid synthetic fungicides (replace with UNIVERSAL BOOST in pre-harvest).
• Required certifications: ECOCERT, GlobalG.A.P., GRASP, IFS.
• Recyclable packaging with clear traceability.
• Compliance with organic citrus production standards in the EU.

Expected Results