Egyptian pomegranates: choosing the right size and packing for your market
Wonderful or Manfalouty? How many fruit per carton? What each market expects from Egyptian pomegranates.
The Egyptian pomegranate season runs from September to December, and the fruit is in high demand across the Gulf, Europe and Russia for its deep red colour and sweet arils.
Varieties
- Wonderful: the best-known commercial variety worldwide. Glossy red skin, large dark arils, and good tolerance for long transit.
- Manfalouty: an Upper Egypt variety with a sweeter taste and lighter skin, popular in Arab markets.
Sizes
Pomegranates are graded by fruit count per carton. Large sizes (8 to 12 fruit) sell well in the Gulf and gift markets, while European supermarket chains prefer medium sizes (14 to 18 fruit) to hit a per-piece price point.
Packing
The most common packs are 3.5, 4 and 5 kg cartons in one or two layers, with dividers or trays that stop the fruit rubbing. Private-label packing is available.
What we check before shipping
- Sound skin, free from cracks and sunburn.
- Even colour and size within each carton.
- Sweetness and aril colour, using cut samples from every lot.
If you are importing pomegranates for the first time, start with a mixed-size container to test your market's preferences.
