Few origins can offer egyptian lemons wholesale on a genuinely year-round basis — Egypt can. The Adalia lemon, Egypt’s dominant export cultivar, fruits in overlapping flushes that keep packhouses supplied twelve months a year, with a strong peak from August through February when Spanish and Turkish volumes are transitioning. For importers tired of seasonal gaps and spot-market spikes, Egypt is the origin that fills the calendar.
PEIVANA ships Adalia lemons from Delta orchards through export packhouses to Alexandria, Damietta, Sokhna, and Port Said. As the flexible Egyptian exporter, we quote same-day and load lemons either as full containers or as 2–6 pallet lines inside mixed citrus and vegetable loads. Here is what to specify before you book.
Varieties & Grades
Adalia is a vigorous, juicy lemon with a bright yellow rind at maturity, high juice content (typically 38–45%), and strong acidity — the profile foodservice and juicing buyers want. Early-flush fruit ships green-to-turning; buyers can specify green, turning, or full yellow colour stage depending on transit time and market preference.
- Class 1: uniform shape and colour stage, smooth rind, no oleocellosis or rind breakdown, stem-end intact — retail and premium wholesale.
- Class 2: light wind scars and colour variation permitted, full internal quality — open markets, catering, and processing.
Sizes & Calibers
Egyptian lemons are sized by count per 15 kg carton, from 72 (largest) to 162 (smallest):
| Count / 15 kg | Approx. diameter (mm) | Avg. fruit weight (g) | Typical markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72–88 | 63–72 | 170–208 | GCC retail, foodservice |
| 100–113 | 58–67 | 133–150 | Europe, Russia |
| 125–138 | 53–62 | 109–120 | Wholesale markets |
| 150–162 | 48–57 | 93–100 | Juicing, price-driven |
Mid counts (100–138) are the commercial sweet spot; confirm your count mix on the offer sheet, not after packing.
Packing Options
| Format | Net weight | Cartons / pallet | Cartons / 40′ reefer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open-top carton | 15 kg | 60–70 | ~1,400–1,500 | Industry standard |
| Telescopic carton | 10 kg | 80 | ~1,900 | Retail-ready |
| Plastic crate | 12–15 kg | 60–72 | ~1,700 | Gulf markets |
| Mesh bags in carton | 10 × 1 kg | 80 | ~2,200 | Supermarket programs |
Carriage at +10 to +13°C for green/turning and full yellow fruit (chilling-sensitive), 85–90% RH, vents open 15–25 CBM.
Season & Availability
Adalia supplies all 12 months, with the export peak August–February — exactly when many competing origins thin out. Summer volumes (March–July) are steady but tighter, so annual-program buyers get priority. Cross-check timing against our Egyptian produce seasons calendar.
QC Checkpoints Buyers Should Demand
- Juice content minimum 34–38% verified per lot at packing.
- Colour-stage photos of each lot before stuffing — “green” must mean uniform green, not mixed.
- Oleocellosis screening: fruit harvested with proper turgor discipline (no early-morning wet picking).
- Post-harvest treatments (wax, approved fungicides) documented against destination MRLs.
- Pulp temperature at stuffing logged, plus pressure tests to confirm rind firmness for 3–4 week transits.
Mixed-Container Fit
Lemons are the classic “topping line” — 2–4 pallets completing citrus, onion, and garlic loads. Their warmer optimum at +10–13°C is not close enough for consolidation: lemons must not share a reefer set point with oranges or mandarins — the gap is 4–8°C and lemons chill-injure below 10°C. See how we structure these loads in the mixed produce containers guide and the winter mixed container: citrus & onions pallet plan.
FAQ
Can I get Egyptian lemons in summer?
Yes. Adalia fruits year-round; summer counts skew smaller and volumes are tighter, so book programs early for March–July supply.
Green or yellow — which should I order?
Green/turning fruit offers the longest shelf life and degreens naturally in transit; full yellow suits short transits and markets that pay for ready colour. We pack to your specification.
What is the minimum quantity?
Full reefers (~22–24 tons in 15 kg cartons) or from 2 pallets inside a mixed container — our specialty for mid-size importers.
Get a Lemon Quotation
Tell us your counts, colour stage, packing, and port — we return a same-day quote. Contact PEIVANA or message us on WhatsApp.