South African citrus season arrives with high-quality fruit
Summer Citrus from South Africa has started its shipping season with high-quality arrivals in the U.S., the group says.
The first South African citrus volume arrived near the end of May, and industry leaders say weekly arrivals are expected through the summer.
Established in 1999 and rebranded in 2016 for expanded marketing efforts, the Summer Citrus from South Africa group provides navels, midknight valencias, easy peelers, star ruby grapefruit and cara cara oranges, according to the group’s website.
Despite recent heavy rainfall in the Western Cape and in Citrusdal, where Summer Citrus from South Africa’s growers are primarily located, the group is reorganizing after days without electricity and a lack of access to citrus groves and some roads, according to a news release.
Even with weather challenges and a minor setback with timing, the group expects high-quality fruit will arrive weekly for the rest of the summer, according to the release.
“We kicked off our 25th season on a positive note and we followed our inaugural vessel, the MSC Shirley, immediately with other vessels that are now enroute to the Port of Philadelphia as we gained momentum through the month of June,” Suhanra Conradie, CEO of Summer Citrus from South Africa, said in the release. “Our business is all about managing our challenges and utilizing our opportunities collectively. The news highlighting conditions in the Western Cape has certainly raised concerns about the season ahead and I’m here to confirm, fruit for the summer is on the way.”
New to its 25th shipping season, the group from Summer Citrus from South Africa has gained access to deliver fruit to both sides of the Delaware River at the Port of Philadelphia, confirming a steady and plentiful weekly supply of citrus from the Western Cape of South Africa, both with conventional and container vessels, the release said. This new approach to citrus shipments provides a significant advantage for the group, in providing sustained long-term shipping opportunities, for the planned growth of the program in the near future, the release said.
“Supply is up to expectations and ready to satisfy the demand for citrus in the U.S. throughout the summer,” Conradie said in the release. “I can confirm weekly arrivals of either conventional or containers or both, will arrive at the Port of Philadelphia from July onwards for the remainder of the season. Our unique model of collaboration has proven successful yet again, and we have not only forecasted a healthy supply of citrus, but we’re also committed to delivering fruit to satisfy the U.S. market with the finest summer citrus available in the world. This is why SCSA remains the preferred supplier of citrus in the U.S. during the summer months.”
