Due to their high vitamin C content, lemons are well known to strengthen the immune system. What is less known is that they do not only come from Sicily or Spain, but recently also from Lower Austria. The first harvest has already arrived at BILLA and is available for a short time in selected branches in Vienna and Lower Austria. Marcel Haraszti, REWE International AG Executive Board Member, is particularly pleased about this pilot project: "We are proud to be able to offer local lemons for the first time this year. Together with our agricultural partners, we have succeeded in bringing another 'exotic' product home. This year there is admittedly only a small quantity - a taste, so to speak - of Austrian lemons."
Strong increase in demand for citrus fruits
With the introduction of domestic lemons, BILLA has its finger on the pulse of the time, as the need to strengthen the immune system with plenty of vitamin C is great, especially now during the Corona crisis. Lemons, oranges and kiwis are particularly in demand. Compared to last year, the demand for citrus fruits has increased by almost a quarter. Only kiwis were able to show an even stronger increase - of over 30 percent - compared to 2019.
For more Austria on the shelf: domestic exotics
Lemons are by no means the first exotics that BILLA has brought home in cooperation with Austrian farmers. "We have been promoting regional products for many years and are now also doing so with so-called exotics. Whereas in the past it was ginger, watermelon, rice, sweet potatoes, figs, physalis or goji berries, for example, now it is also lemons," says Haraszti and adds: "In this way, we are supporting Austria's innovative farmers and expanding the regional range for our customers."
