The major citrus-growing area in Spain is the Valencia province on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the area for which the Valencia orange is named. Although Spain is fifth in total world citrus production behind Brazil, the U.S., China and Mexico, the country is the world's largest fresh citrus exporter with about 3.3 million tons exported in 2004-05.

Juan Carlos Motilla Vercher grows clementines on a large 516 acre plantation in Tavernes de la Valldigna, Valencia, within view of the Baetic mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Half his orchard is planted in clementines. He is producing 1.8 million five-pound boxes of clementines for export this year - 324,000 boxes destined for the U.S. Shipments began in late October.

A family-run organization, the Juan Motilla orchard has grown clementines for 80 years. Juan Carlos began working alongside his father at the age of 15 and now runs the orchard with his brother Rafael and eight other full-time employees. Other family members run all aspects of the operation, from orchard management to quality control, packing and marketing.

"Clementines are an excellent fruit, easy to peel, sweet, juicy and usually seedless," said Juan Carlos, who enjoys eating the fruit as well as growing it.

New trees reach full production in four to six years and reach a maximum height of eight to ten feet. Each year, the trees blossom and produce fruit. And while the clementines are developing, the trees need irrigation, fertilizer, pruning and phytosanitary treatments.

Seeds can be a problem with clementines if the blossoms are cross-pollinated with other seeded citrus varieties. Juan Carlos takes extra precautions to control the bees during the flowering period, so that his fruit can be truly seedless.

"The most interesting stage for clementines, but the most risky, is the harvest," he continued. "Because it can make or break a whole year's work."

Juan Carlos carefully evaluates brix and acidity levels to determine the optimal timing for picking the fruit. And because clementines have thinner skins than other citrus varieties, like oranges, lemons and grapefruit, pickers have to be very careful.

"At this time, everyone is nervous - the traders, the owners, the workers, the marketers, because we have to decide when to harvest the clementines and when the first shipment will arrive to the final customer," said Juan Carlos. "It is a crucial decision. Moreover, everyone is watching for rain. And our two on-site packing houses are preparing machinery … nervous times indeed."

While his orchard grows multiple varieties, including: Marisol, Arrufatina, Orogrande, Oronules, Oroval, Loretina, Clemenules, Clemenvilla, Hernandina, Fortuna, Ortanique, Juan Carlos says that the Clemenules variety is best for export. The Clemenules variety has high, reliable fruit set with maximum production rates of up to 16 tons per acre.

"The taste of Clemenules is excellent," said Juan Carlos, "because it is a later harvesting variety that reaches a good sugar level on the tree. The main problem with Clemenules is that it arrives in the U.S. after the Thanksgiving holiday when market demand is less."

Juan Carlos anticipates that clementine varieties that harvest very early and very late in the Spanish season will gradually become unmarketable due to imports from competitive citrus producers in the Southern Hemisphere.

Juan Carlos and his wife Carmen have two grown sons, ages 16 and 18. The boys are now old enough to work on the orchard when they're not in school. Juan Carlos' father is retired now, but he still visits the orchard every day.

In his off season, Juan Carlos enjoys playing soccer and mountain climbing. He recently explored Andorra in the Pyrenees range between Spain and France.