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Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Lychee |
| Scientific name | Litchi chinensis |
| Family / Genus | Sapindaceae / — |
| Produce category | Tropical Fruit |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 3027 |
| PLU — organic | 93027 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_4483 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 25.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mauritius | 28% | One of the most popular early-season varieties in the US, especially Florida. Known for its excellent flavor, good size, and consistent production. Fruit is typically bright red with a good balance of |
| Brewster | 22% | A widely grown mid-season variety, particularly in Florida. Produces large, heart-shaped fruit with a good sweet-tart flavor. Skin is typically red to reddish-orange. Known for its robust growth and p |
| Sweetheart | 18% | A popular late-season variety known for its large fruit size and small ‘chicken tongue’ seed, making it very desirable for consumers. It has a sweet, aromatic flavor and a good flesh-to-seed ratio. Sk |
| Kwai Mai Pink (Bosworth 3) | 12% | A mid-season variety highly regarded for its excellent eating quality. The fruit is medium-sized with a distinctive pinkish-red skin and a very sweet, juicy, and aromatic flesh. Often has a small seed |
| Hak Ip | 8% | A premium mid-season variety, highly prized for its exceptional flavor and small seed. The fruit is medium to large, with a deep red skin and very sweet, translucent flesh. Considered one of the best |
| Emperor | 5% | A very large, late-season variety known for its impressive size and good flavor. The fruit is robust with a thick skin, making it somewhat more tolerant to handling. It has a sweet, juicy flesh and a |
| Bengal | 3% | A mid-season variety known for its consistent production and good quality fruit. The fruit is medium-sized, red, with a sweet and tangy flavor. It’s a reliable producer in many growing regions. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 41°F.
- Freezing point: 30°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 4 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.05 µL/kg·h typical (0.01–0.1) |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 0.1 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Lychees are non-climacteric and do not ripen after harvest. Ethylene exposure can accelerate senescence and pericarp browning, but does not induce ripening.
Mixed-load compatibility
Ethylene-sensitive, high humidity requiring
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? Yes
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Steady growth, driven by increasing consumer awareness of tropical fruits, diverse demographics, and health-conscious eating trends.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.8 |
| Income elasticity | 1.2 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -1.5 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Mauritius | 30% |
| Brewster | 25% |
| Hak Ip | 20% |
| Kaimana | 10% |
| Sweetheart | 10% |
| Other | 5% |
Pack sizes
- 1 lb
- 2 lb
- 5 lb
- 10 lb case
- 20 lb case
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
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