The mandarin harvest in the Neretva Valley is ongoing, with this year’s yield expected to reach between 25,000 and 30,000 tons—about half of last year's 60,000 tons—according to Neven Mataga, vice president of the Croatian Fruit Growers Association. Despite the reduced quantity, Mataga noted that the quality of this year's mandarins is outstanding, with sugar content and color being the best in a decade.

Early varieties like Ichumara and Zorica rana are currently being harvested, but heavy rain has hampered access to some plots. First-class mandarins are currently priced at 70 euro cents per kilogram, while second-class fetches around 30 cents.

Mataga also highlighted ongoing challenges with land registration, as 700 hectares of mandarin plantations were removed from the national registry last year due to ownership issues, making it illegal to sell mandarins from these areas.

Agricultural analyst Miroslav Kuskunović added that despite smaller yields, there will be enough mandarins for domestic consumption and export, with hopes that prices will remain reasonable to avoid reducing consumer demand. He emphasized the importance of both quality and price competitiveness to prevent market instability and high retail margins.