The short Florida lychee season is almost over for the year, as the last varieties are being picked off the trees and sent to market. Damage from Hurricane Irma last year, along with cool winter temps has meant numbers are down this year compared with previous years. Some growers had a good crop, while others did not.

"Many of the lychee trees were damaged by Hurricane Irma last year, and some groves have been wiped out," said Brandon Cepeda of the Robert is Here Fruit Stand and Farm. "The younger trees have not yet established a strong root structure, and therefore many were blown over when Irma passed through, resulting in significant losses for some growers. Older, more mature trees held firm, however sustained damage such as broken branches and other physical damage. These trees still yielded some fruit and this is what is supplying the market right now."

Cepeda did, however, mention that the younger trees will respond better for future crops. "The benefits of the younger trees is that as long as growers responded quickly and re-planted them, they will recover much faster and hopefully next year, will return a more normal crop," he explained. "The older trees may take an extra season or two to return to full production."

Despite the damage to the trees and the subsequently lower numbers, the quality of the fruit is excellent according to suppliers. The market is also very good, with plenty of demand for the domestic lychee crop.

"Because fruit is a lot more scarce, prices are higher," Cepeda noted. "However, they are not so high so as to extinguish demand. The majority has sold out and in fact we have sold over 1,500lb of lychees already. And what is left is excellent quality as the hurricane did not affect the fruit quality."

Louise King of the Tropical Fruit Growers of South Florida, said that consumers eagerly anticipate the domestic crop. "We sell out every year," she said. "There is excellent demand, particularly up and down the East Coast. California is more difficult as there are certain restrictions on fruit shipments to that state. Lychees are also imported from Mexico, which typically begins its season about a week before Florida. We do compete with the lychees coming from Mexico, but consumers prefer the domestic crop. Some buy them loose while others, especially those in the Asian demographic, prefer to buy them with the stems on."

There are a number of varieties of lychees, with varying flavor, size, and ripening times. Currently the Brewster variety is one of the major ones being harvested right now, but according to suppliers, there are other varieties along with this one that customers seek out every year.

"The Black Leaf is the most popular lychee variety," Cepeda said. "It is one of the sweetest and has a smaller seed. We also have the Emperor which is just about ready. It is huge in size - bigger than a golf ball - and is also very sweet with a little bit of tartness."

Cepeda also shared that the use of particular bags that absorb ethylene gas has been very successful. "These bags are made of special plastic that absorbs the gas and also any moisture that may be present on the fruit after harvest," he said. "It keeps the fruit fresher for longer, which for lychees is particularly important. They are more expensive, but are worth the cost."