This commodity profile was rendered from
knowledge.domain = commodity, key = lemon(GDF v2.0, 3465 attributes, 28 sections).Renderer:
commodity_profile_rendererv1.0.0. Source row version:knowledge_forge_gdf_v2.0_export_2026-04-06.
Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Lemon |
| Scientific name | Citrus limon |
| Family / Genus | Rutaceae / Citrus |
| Produce category | Citrus |
| Produce subcategory | True Citrus |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4033 |
| PLU — organic | 94033 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_4234 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 35.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eureka | 45% | Year-round production, few seeds, high juice content, medium-thick rind. Classic supermarket lemon with nipple-like protrusion at blossom end. Bears fruit continuously in favorable climates. |
| Lisbon | 35% | Dense canopy, vigorous growth, few seeds, high acid content. More cold-tolerant than Eureka. Smooth rind with less prominent nipple. Thorny tree, very productive. |
| Meyer | 12% | Lemon-orange hybrid, sweeter and less acidic than true lemons. Thin, smooth, deep yellow-orange skin. Highly aromatic, popular for culinary use. More cold-sensitive, compact tree suitable for containe |
| Femminello | 3% | Italian origin, including sub-varieties like Femminello Siracusano and Santa Teresa. Multiple blooms per year, highly productive. Elliptical fruit with prominent nipple, high juice and acid content. |
| Verna | 2% | Spanish origin, large fruit with thick rind. Late-season variety, excellent storage characteristics. Low seed count, moderate juice content. Dominant in Spanish production. |
| Primofiori | 1.5% | Spanish origin, early-season variety. Medium-sized fruit with smooth, thin rind. High juice content, vigorous tree. Important in Mediterranean production. |
| Villafranca | 0.8% | Similar to Eureka, originated in Florida. Medium to large fruit, smooth rind, few seeds. Continuous production, well-adapted to subtropical climates. |
| Ponderosa | 0.3% | Lemon-citron hybrid, very large fruit (up to 2 lbs). Thick, bumpy rind, seedy, low juice content. Primarily ornamental and specialty use. Cold-sensitive. |
| Bearss | 0.3% | Sicilian variety, also known as Bearss Sicilian. Seedless, medium-sized fruit, high juice content. Thornless tree, year-round production in warm climates. |
| Yen Ben | 0.2% | New Zealand selection from Lisbon. Very productive, vigorous tree. Large fruit with high juice content, smooth rind. Good cold tolerance. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 50°F.
- Freezing point: 28.8°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 2 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.2 μL/kg·h typical (0.1–0.4) |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 10 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Lemons can be stored with most commodities without ethylene-related issues; avoid prolonged storage with high ethylene producers only at elevated temperatures
Mixed-load compatibility
citrus
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Growing steadily driven by health/wellness trends, increased usage in beverages, cooking shows, and Mediterranean diet popularity. Strong foodservice recovery post-pandemic. Organic segment expanding rapidly. Year-round demand with seasonal peaks during cold/flu season.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.65 |
| Income elasticity | 0.42 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -0.38 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Eureka | 42% |
| Lisbon | 38% |
| Meyer | 12% |
| Other varieties | 8% |
Pack sizes
- 37-lb carton (standard)
- 38-lb carton
- 40-lb carton
- 2-lb mesh bag
- 3-lb bag
- 5-lb bag
- Single fruit (by count: 75s, 95s, 115s, 140s, 165s, 200s, 235s)
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T22:30:00.000Z.