South Africa

South Africa Stone Fruit Industry Launches Consumer Promotion

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:11:16 GMT

Hortgro, an organization that supports and represents the deciduous fruit producers of South Africa, announces its third annual Endless Plum Possibilities consumer-facing sweepstakes to shoppers in the U.S.

Now through April 30, participants are encouraged via email and social media platforms to enter the promotion for a chance to win a $500 gift card.

New this year, Hortgro plans to elevate its promotional design with South African culture and pride, featuring the country’s flag and unique growing characteristics.

“We’re excited to share a bit more of the South African culture as well as the uniqueness of our growing region with this year’s promotion,” says Wilechia van der Westhuizen, trade development manager for Hortgro. “Having the opportunity to continue educating U.S. consumers about what makes South African plums special is key to furthering our presence on grocery store shelves.”

Hortgro says the South African stone fruit industry has achieved greater product consistency by focusing on new cultivars and taste credentials driven by Mediterranean growing conditions.

“We look forward to engaging with consumers during this third promotion period and encouraging them to enjoy South African plums during peak seasonality,” van der Westhuizen says. “We’ve introduced a few new recipes this year to showcase all the delicious ways plums can feature in every meal.”

South African plums can be found at Costco, Sam’s Club and Wegmans with high saturation in the Northeast region.

Oppy Projects Strong Citrus Imports Despite Tariff Challenges

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 19:09:11 GMT

As U.S. enters peak citrus import season, Vancouver, British Columbia-based international produce company Oppy announced this season’s citrus crop from the Southern Hemisphere “has arrived with excellent quality and promotable volumes.”

“It’s a privilege to work alongside the world’s top citrus growers and bring their fruit to the U.S. and Canadian market,” says Michael Schaefer category manager. “Our trusted grower-partners remain at the heart of everything we do. Their expertise and resilience shape every season, driving the quality and exceptional service Oppy is known for.”

The company says its Southern Hemisphere citrus program includes Murcott, Tango and Daisy mandarins, and navel and cara cara oranges from Chile and Uruguay. It describes this year’s crop as having strong supply and good flavor. It also says grapefruit from South Africa has also arrived in good supply despite potential tariff challenges.

“High consumer demand for the citrus category continues with our import campaign, and while the tariffs create an additional layer of compliance, our focus remains on our products, growers and customers, and delivering the very best produce throughout the supply chain,” Schaefer says. “The diversity of Oppy’s countries of source for our import citrus program not only allows us to bring a variety of exceptional products to our customers, it also allows us to mitigate the impact of tariffs on any items.”

The company says it continues to focus on citrus varieties that drive success, such as easy peelers, navel oranges and lemons. Oppy says it expects its Fair Trade Certified easy peeler mandarins from Peru to expand significantly over the next three years. It also reports new plantings of fair trade navels in Chile.

Organic citrus is another area of expansion, Oppy reports, particularly for mandarin and grapefruit. This is fueling the company’s growing partnerships in South Africa.

“Consumer interest in specialty citrus remains strong, particularly for cara cara oranges, which continue to gain popularity in the U.S. market year after year,” says Rodrigo Lopez, category director. “Blood oranges are also on an upward trend, and Oppy will support that demand with a strong Australian program this season.”

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Envy Apples Shifting to Southern Hemisphere Sources

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 18:49:57 GMT

Oppy announced a new crop of Envy apples is coming from New Zealand at the beginning of August, then crops will begin coming from Chile and South Africa in the following weeks. This Southern Hemisphere sourcing will ensure a seamless transition from the Washington season and an uninterrupted supply of one of the most popular apple varieties, the company says.

“Strategic alignment with our international partners has enabled us to execute a smooth and efficient transition between growing regions,” says Roger Aguirre, director of apples and pears. “Oppy has marketed New Zealand products since the 1950s. These decades of connectedness have positioned us as a trusted bridge to the Kiwi nation’s premium pipfruit in the North American market.”

Piers Hanbury, executive director of apples, pears and category development, says: “The transition this year has been especially smooth. From growing conditions to logistics, the Southern Hemisphere crop positions us to keep pace with growing demand. Envy continues to outperform other proprietary varieties, and we’re well prepared to support retail programs all summer long.”

Demand for Envy apples continues to rise, the company says, with two in five Envy shoppers being new to the variety within the past year. Consumers are highly engaged, spending 1.8 times more than the average apple shopper, and loyal, with units per trip ranking second among all branded apples.

Hanbury notes, “Everything is in place to ensure no gaps in availability, providing our retail partners with consistent supply and shoppers with the crisp, sweet Envy experience they expect.”

Oppy says its marketing support and countrywide supply chain ensure a reliable source of Envy apples year-round to retail partners. It also offers a wide range of fresh apple varieties including Jazz, ambrosia, braeburn, Smitten, royal gala, fuji, granny smith and Pink Lady.

“Our year-round program is built on the foundation of delivering the very best eating experience, and it’s what our retail partners can continue to count on from Oppy,” Aguirre says.

DiSilva Fruit projects strong summer citrus imports

Fri, 23 May 2025 15:49:50 GMT

DiSilva Fruit says its 2025 summer import citrus program — from June through October — will showcase a broad selection of citrus offerings sourced from grower partners across the Southern Hemisphere. Highlights include navels from South Africa and Chile; mandarins from Peru, Uruguay, South Africa and Chile; and lemons from Argentina, Chile and Mexico, according to the company.

“Summer is an underrated time for citrus,” Alden Guptill of DiSilva Fruit said in a news release. “Our early insights from growers point to a high-quality crop with excellent sizing, vibrant flavor and strong volumes. This creates outstanding opportunities for retailers to feature citrus in their summer promotions, helping shoppers discover that citrus is much more than a wintertime favorite — it’s a delicious, refreshing and hydrating snack that fits perfectly into summer lifestyles.”

DiSilva Fruit says citrus represents good value for consumers, combining nutrition with a low price during a time when food costs are top of mind. The company highlights the nutritional value of citrus, saying citrus fruits are loaded with essential nutrients, including vitamin C, antioxidants and dietary fiber.

“We’re seeing more consumers look for functional foods that not only taste great but also provide added health benefits,” Guptill said. “Citrus ticks all the boxes — it’s flavorful, refreshing, nutrient-dense and budget-friendly. It’s an easy choice for families looking to elevate their summer snacking and meals.”

DiSilva Fruit also said it will offer the imported citrus in a range of pack sizes to meet consumers varied needs, including 3-pound and 4-pound bags as well as standard citrus cartons for bulk displays and merchandising flexibility. Lemons will also be available in 5-, 2- and 1-pound consumer packs to meet consumer needs, the company added.

DiSilva Fruit encourages retailers to take advantage of this year’s strong supply and build engaging citrus displays throughout the store — especially in key summer moments like Fourth of July, back-to-school time, and Labor Day. Cross-merchandising opportunities with summer recipes, beverages and wellness themes can further drive sales and inspire consumers to add more citrus to their carts, the company says.

Kissabel apples progressing into Southern Hemisphere

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 13:01:18 GMT

Kissabel says it is expanding its range of apples with flesh that varies from pink to intense red into the Southern Hemisphere. Development continues in Australia, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa thanks to IFORED program partners in these countries, according to the company.

“Kissabel is fortunate to be able to count on high-calibre international partners,” Emmanuel de Lapparent, head of the IFORED program, said in a news release. “Producers in the Southern Hemisphere are focused on testing the different varieties in their respective climates and markets. In terms of increasing the availability of our range on the global market, we are definitely heading in the right direction.”

Australia is at the most advanced stage of development, according to the company. The growers of Montague Farms in Australia have begun the harvest, which will involve yellow skin and pink flesh varieties, and varieties with both red skin and flesh.

Though marketing is still at the early stages in terms of volumes, Montague Farms is investing in the growth of the brand, according to the release. Kissabel made an appearance on “Sunrise,” one of Australia’s most popular morning television shows. It was also a hit at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, according to the company, which added that the apple was sampled to over 50,000 people and that TV presenter and author Alice Zaslavsky hosted a sold-out Kissabel cooking demonstration at the show.

Kissabel said it plans for future sampling events involving influencers and food outlets.

“The goal is to construct a strong brand, so we are ready to increase volumes in the next few years,” said Michelle Hau, marketing manager of Montague Farms. “We are particularly interested in young foodies, the perfect target audience for an innovation product like Kissabel.”

Kissabel is also making progress in South America thanks to the work of partners Moño Azul in Argentina and Unifrutti in Chile, the company said.

“The main objective this season is to confirm which varieties adapt best to our land so we can open new commercial plantations,” said Marcelo Galardini, sales director of Moño Azul. “In the meantime, we will begin promoting Kissabel apples on the local market to raise their profile among our customers.”

Argentinean production is mainly focused on the varieties with red flesh and skin. This is also the main variety in Chile, where different cultivars are currently being tested, according to the release.

“This season we will send product samples to one of our customers in Brazil with the aim of expanding commercial production,” said Cristian Matte, commercial manager of Unifrutti Chile.

Dutoit Group of South Africa began planting its first semi-commercial orchards in 2023, focusing on red skin and red flesh varieties and achieved this year its first harvest of Kissabel apples.

“We are very excited about the quality of the harvest: the apples developed an intense and vibrant red color, especially in warmer regions. A pleasant surprise was the change in texture when apples reached maturity, also allowing the flavor to fully develop. This result was met with great enthusiasm by both our marketing team and local retailers,” said Willie Cotze, technical manager at Dutoit.

“We will be introducing Kissabel apples to a group of local media, influencers and retail customers to test the visual and tasting experience of this unique product,” he added.

The testing phase is also currently underway in New Zealand with the partner Yummy Fruit, according to the release.

South African citrus group celebrates 25 years

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 13:39:06 GMT

Summer Citrus from South Africa is celebrating its 25th consecutive year shipping citrus from South Africa to the U.S. The SCSA group has more than doubled exports in the past several years, shipping a sustained 100,000 pallets to the U.S. and anticipates sustaining the current growth trajectory for the next 3-5 years, according to a news release.

In 1999, Summer Citrus from South Africa entered the U.S. market for the first time with just a few pallets of citrus during a time when the imported citrus category was not yet established. Over the past two decades, the category was slowly built, with the product being distributed to a select group of importers. Since then, this small but mighty group steadily established South Africa as the preferred supplier of citrus to the U.S. consumer during the summer months, said the release.

“From the very beginning to now, long-term relationships have formed the backbone of this business and has contributed to the sustained growth and longevity of the program,” Suhanra Conradie, Summer Citrus from South Africa CEO said in the release. “The Holt family and their staff have formed an enormous part of this sustained growth and have been a partner for us to count on. It has not been easy, but the challenges have made us stronger and allowed us not only to build demand in the U.S., but also allowed us to utilize our opportunities collectively and expand footprint in the U.S. market even further.”

Related news: USDA downgrades 2022-23 citrus estimates

In the early years, it was the dedicated conventional vessels that were being shipped to the port of Philadelphia. Through sustained growth, SCSA was given the opportunity to engage with the shipping giants of the world where SCSA now splits their volumes 50/50 between conventional vessels and containers and SCSA ships to both sides of the Delaware River, said the release.

“A quarter century is a remarkable milestone in any commodities-based business, and we are extremely proud to partner with our longtime friends in South Africa,” Leo Holt, President and CEO of Holt Logistics, Operator of Gloucester Terminals said in the release. “Building a diverse supply chain ensures food security and access to nutritious fresh food products here in our local markets and beyond. We are thankful to all of our partners who prioritize the safe and efficient movement of cargo through our ports.”

Oppy expands South African plum portfolio in second season

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 17:24:37 GMT

The Oppenheimer Group plans to continue building the plum category with its second season of South African plums this year.

The opportunity for South African plums in the U.S. market emerged when U.S. authorities tightened 2021 Chilean plum import regulations following pest detection, according to a news release. Oppy advised its retail partners to substitute with fruit from South Africa where it had recently enlisted Sila Louw to manage its operations, the release said.

“Now in its second season, Oppy is more than doubling its volume,” Louw said in the release. “We’re also really thrilled to hold a 25% to 30% share of what’s coming into the North American market.”

Plums first arrived at the end of January and will continue to load through the first week of May, which will bring prominent varieties like ruby sun, black pearl, African delight and angeleno, and then introduce volumes of newcomers midnight gold, red phoenix, honey punch, flavor fall, fall fiesta and September yummy.

Louw said in the release that Oppy builds programs around particular varieties that can withstand the cold treatment protocol required by the USDA.

“There is much more to explore and develop in South Africa,” James Milne, senior vice president of categories and marketing, said in the release. “As consumers continue to demand global options and retailers look to new countries for alternatives and fresh items, Oppy will be there with exciting and contemporary offerings.”

Over time, the Oppy team looks toward expanding its portfolio and building upon nectarine trials from this season, the release said.

Summer Citrus from South Africa launches third annual ‘The Sweet Escape Sweepstakes’

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 20:57:37 GMT

In its 25th consecutive citrus season, Summer Citrus from South Africa has launched its 2023 consumer summer promotion.

Called “The Sweet Escape Sweepstakes,” the annual promotion, in its third year, offers shoppers an opportunity to win one of two $500 Visa gift cards to curate their own getaway this summer, according to a news release.

“We continue to see an increase in consumer engagement from our Sweet Escape Sweepstakes and have brought it back to keep South African citrus at the top of everyone’s minds this summer,” Suhanra Conradie, CEO of Summer Citrus from South Africa, said in the release. “Despite challenging weather conditions, we are proud to be able to continue to supply the U.S. with premium citrus during the summer months.”

Throughout the duration of the promotion, Summer Citrus from South Africa will share inspirational and educational content to incorporate citrus into fresh summer recipes, the release said. The brand is also using its social media platforms to educate consumers on the importance of citrus from South Africa, the release said.

“We began hosting consumer-facing promotions eight years ago and with each season, we’ve been able to share why South African citrus is special and continue to further entice shoppers to look for the label in the grocery store when looking for exceptional fruit,” Conradie said.

To further enhance the promotion, Summer Citrus from South Africa will use online advertising to key markets on Facebook and Instagram that encourages shoppers to participate in the sweepstakes. The promotion will also be supported by email marketing, public relations efforts and social media campaigns, the release said.

“Our promotion is not only to inform shoppers of the availability of South Africa’s supreme citrus, but also help showcase consumer interest and feedback to retailers,” Conradie said. “The intel we capture during this time is key to understanding our shoppers a bit better.”

Consumers can enter the sweepstakes online . Learn more about the summer promotion at summercitrus.com .

AgroFresh acquires packaging solution company, broadening portfolio

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 19:23:34 GMT

Agtech company AgroFresh Solutions Inc. has acquired South Africa-based Tessara, a packaging solutions provider specializing in preserving fresh produce with sulfur dioxide-generating sheets to prevent decay in table grapes, berries and flowers, according to a news release.

The acquisition marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for AgroFresh — itself owned by private equity firm, Paine Schwartz Partners — as it furthers its mission to prevent food loss and waste across the produce supply chain through science-based freshness solutions, digital technologies and services for a broad range of crops.

What’s more, the acquisition of Tessara amplifies AgroFresh’s capabilities in post-harvest produce freshness and food waste reduction, adding solutions for key crop segments such as table grapes and berries, according to the release. The acquisition also increases its footprint across fruit growing regions such as South Africa, China, Australia and South America, the release said.

“AgroFresh and Tessara both aspire to bring continued value to our customers globally,” AgroFresh CEO Clint Lewis said in the release. “We have a shared vision to be the global leaders in the provision of post-harvest solutions for the fresh fruit and produce industry. And what does global leadership really mean? It means that many more varieties of crops get the benefits of a solution that helps enhance freshness and quality and really supports growers and producers.”

Related news: AgroFresh reflects on two decades since launching its flagship technology

Founded in 1985 in Cape Town, South Africa, today Tessara’s products have protected more than $3 billion worth of fresh produce annually in more than 30 countries, according to the release.

“Over the course of the past few decades, Tessara has grown into a global leader in the provision of SO2 solutions used for prevention of decay for a number of high-value crops,” Tessara CEO Jaco Smit said in the release. “Being part of AgroFresh gives us access to resources to support ongoing research and development, production facilities around the world, and, most importantly, a global presence. Combining our portfolio with AgroFresh’s portfolio will make us a significant force in post-harvest technologies around the world.”

LGS Specialty Sales offers South African grapefruit

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 12:32:43 GMT

New Rochelle, N.Y.-based importer LGS Specialty Sales says it is now offering South African Star ruby grapefruit to retailers ahead of schedule.

The company’s volumes of early summer star ruby grapefruit are now available for shipment out of New Jersey, according to a news release.

“Our customers continue to partner with LGS Specialty Sales because we work to secure fresh produce, like grapefruit, when the market is in need,” Luke Sears, president and founder of LGS Specialty Sales, said in the release. “If a retailer is having a hard time sourcing import grapefruit right now, look no further.”

LGS Specialty Sales sources grapefruit from the company’s farms in the fruitful Mediterranean-like climate of South Africa, where the weather is optimal for high-quality citrus, the release said. South African Star Ruby grapefruit will be available through October.

U.S. imports of South African citrus projected to rise

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 21:50:27 GMT

Analysts expect South African citrus exports to the U.S. to grow in 2023 despite mixed production trends among citrus varieties, according to a USDA report .

Most U.S. imports of South African citrus occur from June through November.

While orange and lemon outputs are projected lower, grapefruit and tangerine and mandarin production is projected to increase slightly in 2023 due to favorable weather conditions in major producing regions.

Challenging times

The South African citrus industry is facing several challenges, including accelerating farming input costs, high shipping rates, infrastructure inefficiencies and new phytosanitary regulations, the report said.

Because of that, the profitability and sustainability of the industry are under threat, which could limit future investments.

“Duty-free exports of citrus to the United States under the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) are expected to continue their strong annual growth, as the United States is still considered a premium market,” the report said.

Orange outlook

Citrus orchards in South Africa account for about 238,000 acres, of which orange orchards represent approximately 45%. The area planted to oranges grew by almost 4% over the past seven years. However, orange acreage growth will be just 0.5% in marketing year 2022-23, the report said.

The report said South Africa’s orange production in 2023 will decrease by 1%, while exports will grow by 5%, based on higher production of exportable fruit and more favorable export conditions due to the weakened South African rand (currency).

The European Union buys 40% of South African orange exports.

South Africa’s exports to the U.S. are expected to continue to grow, benefitting from duty-free access under the African Growth Opportunity Act. Exports of oranges to the U.S. increased to a record of 59,192 metric tons in 2022, up 25% from the previous season.

Grapefruit

South Africa’s grapefruit area has grown by 18% over the past seven years, but the report said the grapefruit area is expected to flatten in the coming years due to softening in global demand.

Star ruby, due to its high global demand, is the predominant cultivar planted, accounting for 88% of the total area. The report said grapefruit production in South Africa is forecast at 420,000 metric tons in 2023, slightly above last season, based on above-normal rainfall and a return to normal yield.

South Africa’s grapefruit export forecast for this season is 220,000 metric tons, down 8% from last season. China was the leading market for South African grapefruit exports in 2022, accounting for 27% of global sales, followed by the Netherlands with 27%, Japan with 10% and Russia with 8%.

While total volumes are still low, grapefruit exports to the U.S. have been growing exponentially over the past 10 years, from 275 metric tons in 2011 to 6,184 metric tons in 2022. Another increase is expected for 2023, according to the report.

Tangerines and mandarin growth slows

The report said South African area planted to tangerines/mandarins (soft citrus) has increased substantially over the past seven years, driven by higher global demand for seedless soft citrus and relatively higher profit margins compared to other citrus types.

However, the USDA expects growth in the South African soft citrus area to slow down in 2023, with the relatively static planted area at about 74,000 acres, as decreasing budwood sales continue to be the trend.

“The industry is concerned that demand for soft citrus is softening in key markets such as the [European Union] and United Kingdom due to inflationary pressures on consumers and an expected weakening in economic growth,” the report said.

In 2022, the area planted with tangerines/mandarins increased by 2%, and the report said an expanding number of acres of tangerine/mandarin production are under netting to better control pests, enable better water-management practices and protect the fruit from adverse weather conditions such as strong winds, hail or sun damage.

More than 40% of the soft citrus area in South Africa consists of orchards five years and younger, meaning that a growing volume of soft citrus will reach the market in the coming years.

The report said tangerine/mandarin production will grow by 6% in 2023 to 680,000 metric tons. Meanwhile, the USDA forecasts South Africa’s exports of tangerines/mandarins will grow by 7.5% in 2023 to reach a record level of 560,000 metric tons on higher production and the availability of more reasonable shipping rates.

The EU and the U.K. are the largest foreign markets for South African soft citrus, accounting for 45% of total exports, followed by the U.S. (10%), Russia (10%), the United Arab Emirates (8%) and China (4%).

Tangerine/mandarin exports have not been affected by South Africa’s citrus black spot challenges in the EU market. “However, as with all citrus exports, foreign sales of soft citrus are under pressure due to higher shipping costs, local port challenges, and deteriorating road networks,” the report said.

Lemon pause

The area planted with lemons and limes in South Africa has more than doubled over the past seven years, the report said.

“However, the positive trend in area planted with lemons/limes has flattened in recent years due to the bearish movement of export prices received by producers,” the report said.

Planting area for lemons is expected stable, the report said.

The report said 2023 lemon and lime production will shrink by 13% to 653,000 metric tons.

In 2022, South Africa produced a record 748,000 metric tons of lemons/limes, up 19% from 2021.

South Africa’s exports of lemons/limes are forecast to grow by 12% to a record level of 570,000 metric tons in 2023.

This estimate is based on an expectation of larger production volumes of exportable lemons, sustained growth in the EU and U.K. markets and growth in demand from the Middle East and Asian markets.

South African citrus season arrives with high-quality fruit

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 14:51:24 GMT

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.”

Summer Citrus from South Africa celebrates 25 years

Fri, 31 May 2024 17:45:17 GMT

Summer Citrus from South Africa says it is ready to kick off its 2024 harvesting season.

As of the conclusion of the 2023 season, South African citrus exporters marked 25 years of shipping fruit to the U.S., and what’s more, shipments of citrus fruit from South Africa have more than doubled since 2019, according to a news release.

“We are officially 25 years on the sunny side and commencing into our 26th season with a healthy crop of sweet and delicious citrus fruit headed to the port of Philadelphia in the coming days and more to come throughout the summer months,” Suhanra Conradie, CEO of Summer Citrus from South Africa, said in the release.

The first vessel, the MSC Houston, is carrying the fruit from Capetown, South Africa, and is expected to arrive in the U.S. at the Port of Philadelphia the first week of June with weekly shipments continuing through the end of October, according to the release. Summer Citrus from South Africa says it will kick off the shipping season with clementines followed by navel oranges and star ruby grapefruit.

“It is important that we recognize the hard work and commitment of the service providers who have been part of our continued success story,” Conradie said. “We are serving one of the world’s most demanding markets, and adapting to the current state of the supply chain on any given day is a key factor of our business model. We have gained much momentum with our collaborative approach and intend to keep it going in 2024.”

Summer Citrus from South Africa says it is positioned well to sustain shipping options to cater to the overall growth of the program, splitting its volumes equally between dedicated conventional vessels and container vessels in the Port of Philadelphia. The team’s group of focused service providers span the total supply chain in the U.S. and South Africa.

“I intend to stay in contact throughout our summer with shipping, supply chain and production updates via our Trade Newsletter , which is meant to be shared,” Conradie said. “Any stakeholder seeking to stay in close contact with our program is invited to subscribe.”

South Africa citrus exports enjoy record year

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 19:00:20 GMT

Total South Africa citrus exports will reach record levels in 2020 and exports to the U.S. also are setting new highs, according to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

The report said a spike in global demand for citrus during the COVID-19 pandemic and limited logistic disruptions helped contribute to record exports for South Africa citrus.

“The U.S. is considered a premium market and South African citrus exports to the U.S. are expected to reach record levels of above 70,000 metric tons in 2020, up 10% from the previous record of 63,544 metric tons in 2018,” the report said.

Through August this year, the USDA said U.S. imports of South African citrus totaled $57.3 million, up 47% from $38.9 million from January to August 2019.

The USDA said total exports from South Africa are expected to grow by 17% to reach 2.5 million metric tons this year.

Growth curve

The USDA said South Africa production has followed significant investments and aggressive new plantings of mandarins, lemons, and new varieties of oranges.

“This growth is mainly driven by the attractive investment returns and profit margins from citrus, and grower’s response to a spike in global demand especially for soft citrus and lemons,” the report said. “The benefits of citrus in boosting immunity and as a source for Vitamin-C during the COVID-19 pandemic has also been instrumental in the global demand spike for citrus.”

South Africa exports its citrus between March and August. While COVID-19 caused some complications in movement of product, the report said disruptions were relatively minor.

“While there were initial challenges at some of the ports in Cape Town and Durban, such as congestion, shortage of containers, and closures of ports for limited periods due to COVID-19 cases, the citrus industry was able to work around these challenges,” the report said.

The Packer’s Coverage South Africa

The Packer’s Coverage Sotuh African Citrus

Summer Citrus from South Africa sponsors Fresh Summit reception

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:35:30 GMT

The borders may remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Summer Citrus from South Africa is able to participate in the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit Oct. 13-15.

The Citrusdal, South Africa-based group of citrus growers will sponsor PMA’s virtual global reception at 5:45 p.m. Eastern on Oct. 12.

The reception includes group presentations and “Let’s Get Acquainted” breakouts to encourage networking among participants logging in from around the world.

“With Fresh Summit on a virtual platform this year, we intend to deliver an extraordinary experience offering connections, content and community,” Lauren M. Scott, PMA chief marketing officer, said in the release.

Summer Citrus from South Africa is wrapping up its 2020 season and 21st year in the U.S. market with peak-volume later-season mandarin varieties and Midknights, according to the release.

“It’s been a record year for production and consumption of citrus due to the pandemic,” Suhanra Conradie, CEO of Summer Citrus from South Africa, said in the release. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to connect with the industry online during this time and participate in fostering meaningful and fruitful relationships.”

Related stories:

South Africa citrus promotion boosted by pandemic demand

South African summer citrus begins weekly arrivals

South African citrus season starts soon

USDA seeks comments on South African citrus import rule

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:13:10 GMT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking comments on a proposal to allow South African citrus imports at all U.S. ports, without the current cold treatment requirement now in place.

South African citrus are allowed at just four U.S. ports now, in Newark, N.J., Philadelphia, Wilmington, Del., and Houston, and must undergo a cold treatment period of about three weeks, to guard against introducing the false codling moth to the country.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing the measure after monitoring imports over the past two seasons for false codling moths according to a news release. More than 2,000 shipments were monitored, with no detections of a live moth.

The APHIS proposal on the commodity import evaluation document for South African citrus affects imports of grapefruits , lemons , mandarin oranges, sweet oranges , tangelos and satsuma mandarins, according to the release.

Comments will be accepted through the Federal Register through June 1.

Related stories:

South Africa to enter lockdown, but fruit exports to continue

South Africa citrus exports predicted to rise

Taste of Summer promotes South African citrus

South African citrus season starts soon

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 19:00:20 GMT

The season for South African citrus in the U.S. is near.

“Overall, the quality of the fruit is looking really good, and increased shipments to the U.S. are anticipated,” Suhanra Conradie, CEO of Summer Citrus from South Africa , wrote in a June 2 newsletter.

The cooperative of more than 300 citrus-growing operations in South Africa is in its 21st year.

In the newsletter, Conradie said clementines are starting to arrive in New York and will continue through early July. The fruit is in its peak.

By the third week of June, about 3,700 pallets and about 90 containers of navel oranges should arrive, Conradie said in the newsletter.

Cara-cara oranges are harvesting slightly earlier, from early June through August. About 4,400 pallets are expected to arrive in early July.

Marketing efforts have focused on promoting to consumers who seek vitamin C, Conradie said in the newsletter.

Summer Citrus from South Africa’s marketing team is using geographically targeted social media advertising to increase traffic at retail stores.

In April, Summer Citrus from South Africa celebrated female leaders in produce, including professionals featured in a video : Conradie, Mayda Sotomayor, CEO of Seald Sweet; Erin Meder, general manager of Capespan North America; and Megan Zweig, vice president of DMA Solutions.

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Salix Fruits hires Shaun Swart head South African office

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:48:19 GMT

Salix Fruits has hired Shaun Swart as country manager for South Africa.

Swart most recently was buying manager for vegetables and salads at Australian grocery store company Woolworths in South Africa, his second stint at the company. He has also been category manager retailer Spinneys Dubai LLC and head of fresh for Geant Saudi. He started his career in the industry at Woolworths as national vegetable buyer; in total, he worked for Woolworths more than 16 ½ years.

Swart will lead the direction and administration of the commercial team and management of the strategy to strengthen the company’s position in Africa, according to a news release.

“We are in the process of growing and market positioning in the region and this incorporation allows us to continue working towards our objective, which is to expand our market in South Africa,” CEO Alejandro Moralejo said in the release.

The company opened a South African procurement office in 2014 and exports apples, citrus, grapes and other items from the country.

The company’s U.S. headquarters is in Atlanta and it has an office in Chicago.

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South Africa citrus promotion boosted by pandemic demand

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:36:25 GMT

Summer Citrus from South Africa has finished another successful consumer promotion, Here Comes the Sun.

The eight-week promotion offered consumers chances to win prizes and highlighted new recipes to capitalize on increased social media use and citrus demand from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release.

Here Comes the Sun is the first social media-only campaign from Summer Citrus from South Africa and brought high impression numbers, included national influencers and increased Instagram followers.

Suhanra Conradie, CEO of Summer Citrus from South Africa, said the group saw an all-time consumption peak.

“Our summer promotion came at an interesting time in history when people are looking for extra ways to indulge in sweet, comforting treats while boosting their immune health,” she said in the release. “We were pleased to be able to engage with our followers and attract new shoppers during this time and offer positive and encouraging messaging throughout the summer months.”

With more than five million media impressions, the Summer Citrus from South Africa promotion was boosted by influencers, who received multiple messages about the brand and possible partnerships, according to the release.

South Africa citrus shippers have three months of the season left.

“The team at SCSA is committed to implementing an ongoing marketing program to keep shoppers engaged throughout the rest of the crop and encourage them to ask for citrus from South Africa when shopping at their local market,” according to the release.

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USDA responds to South African mango request with draft assessment

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:45:14 GMT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking comments on a pest risk assessment for allowing South African mangoes into the U.S.

The government of South Africa asked the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to authorize imports of the fruit into the U.S. The assessment is a step in the process of determining whether a particular agricultural import would harm U.S. agricultural crops.

The APHIS will accept comments on the draft assessment until Oct. 14, according to a news release.

“APHIS shares draft pest risk assessments to determine whether stakeholders have information that might lead us to revise the draft assessment before we identify pest mitigations and proceed with the commodity import approval process,” according to the APHIS notice.

Vanguard International hits milestone for South Africa imports

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:12:40 GMT

Vanguard International , Issaquah, Wash., has been named a gold-level member of Tru-Cape’s Millionaires’ Club, purchasing 2.5 million cartons of apples and pears from the South African exporter.

“We have a long-standing business relationship with the team at Vanguard International, and this promoted level in our Millionaire’s club reflects that,” Jannie Visser, Tru-Cape’s export manager, said in the release.

Vanguard International has had a South Africa for 21 years to manage procurement from South Africa and Egypt, according to the release.

“We are honored to receive the Gold standing after many years of dedicated work in our apple and pear distribution with Tru-Cape and I want to thank Tru-Cape and the entire Vanguard team for all of their hard work to make this achievement happen,” Henk Wever, manager of Vanguard South Africa, said in the release.

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USDA expands port access for South African citrus

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:51:53 GMT

A new rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow expanded U.S. port access to citrus from South Africa.

The USDA said it was revising the import requirements for grapefruit, lemon, mandarin orange, sweet orange, tangelo, and Satsuma mandarin fruit from South Africa.

The regulation is effective Nov. 5.
In 2013, because of pest exclusion precautions, the USDA had allowed South Africa citrus into the ports of Newark, N.J., Philadelphia and
Wilmington, Del.

In 2014, the USDA added Houston as an authorized port.

The USDA earlier asked for comments to remove port restrictions and the agency said most who gave input favored expanded port-of-entry imports.

The Packer South African Citrus Coverage

As U.S. demand rises, easy peelers lead South African export growth

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 19:00:28 GMT

Duty-free access to the U.S. market is one factor in rising production and exports of South African citrus, according to a new report. The rising popularity of easy-peeling mandarins and clementines is another.

In a report on South African citrus, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service
said production and export of tangerines/mandarins, lemons and limes is expected to continue growing in 2018-19 and beyond based on the increase in area planted, new plantings coming into full production, and improved water management by growers.

The report said duty-free exports of citrus to the U.S under the African Growth Opportunity Act are expected to continue to grow at a strong clip.

While oranges are the biggest citrus type produced in South Africa and account for 58% of total citrus area planted, the report said there is recent growth in tangerine, mandarin, lemon and lime acreage.

Total citrus area planted in 2017-18 was 191,600 acres, up 3% from 185,000 acres in 2016-17.

South Africa shipped more than 45,000 metric tons of oranges to the U.S. in 2018, but the report said a gradual shift from oranges to mandarin/tangerine exports is expected over time.

South African farmers supplying the U.S. have been replacing orange orchards with mandarins and tangerines in response to higher demand and premiums, according to the report.

Rise of mandarins and tangerines

South African production of tangerines/mandarins (the report includes both varieties in a single category) is estimated to increase by 9% to 305,000 metric tons in 2018-19, up from 280,000 metric tons in 2017-18.

“There is a growing trend of farmers aggressively establishing new orchards under netting which has improved the water efficiency and the overall quality of soft citrus production in South Africa,” the report said.

Tangerines/mandarin acreage is estimated to increase by 5% to 35,000 acres in 2018-19, following annual acreage gains for those varieties since 2011.

The report said exports of South African tangerines/mandarins will increase by 9% to 285,000 metric tons in 2018-19. The United Kingdom is the biggest export market, but shipments to the U.S. have grown by an average of 15% a year over the past four seasons, from 7,443 metric tons in 2013-14 to 13,695 metric tons 2017-18.

“This growth trend is expected to continue based on the rising U.S. market preference for easy peelers,” the report said.

Capespan restructure streamlines grower to customer link

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:18:56 GMT

Capespan recently completed a two-year process to restructure its fruit business to simplify service for customers and grower partners.

The result is a streamlining between the two ends of its supply chains, according to a news release.

“In order to achieve this, we had to radically simplify our business model and build an integrated Capespan culture of service delivery,” Tonie Fuchs, Capespan managing director, said in a news release.

Capespan’s value proposition is in its ability to supply select customers a basket of fresh fruit from multiple countries through a single contact point directly from the source, according to the release. Investments in technology has allowed to the company to “radically simplify its supply chain, maximize efficiency and significantly reduce costs, according to the release.

“At the same time we will ensure that, with our global footprint, our grower partners will have the best market access for their products, with sustainable and competitive market returns.” Fuchs said in the release. “ … We have changed our focus from being a volume-driven fruit marketer to becoming the service provider of choice to our selected customers.”

Changes to commercial and support functions have been made throughout the business globally, with the main changes in the United Kingdom, Europe and South Africa

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Taste of Summer promotes South African citrus

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:41:35 GMT

Summer Citrus from South Africa is bringing back the Taste of Summer sweepstakes , asking consumers to share their experience on social media.

Consumers who follow Summer Citrus from South Africa on Instagram and share images can enter to win $150 through Aug. 21.

“The goal of “Taste of Summer” is not only to inform consumers of the availability of South Africa’s supreme citrus, but also to showcase interest to retailers,” Suhanra Conradie, CEO of the organization, said in a news release. “We plan to share the results of the promotion and feedback from shoppers with retailers to demonstrate the demand during the summer season.”

The group is using targeted online advertising to key markets on Facebook and Instagram to encourage participation and influencers in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Houston are promoting the campaign.

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South Africa citrus exports predicted to rise

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:22:48 GMT

South Africa citrus production and exports will continue to rise in 2020, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

The 27-page report said that South African production and export of soft citrus, lemons and limes is expected to continue its strong growth in the 2020 marketing season, based on new plantings and recent plantings coming into greater production.

A total of 202,000 acres of citrus was planted in South Africa in 2018, up 8% from 2017, according to the report.
“This growth trend is expected to continue based on the significant investments and aggressive new plantings of soft citrus, lemons, and new varieties of oranges,” the USDA said.

The report said Limpopo province is the largest citrus production area accounting for 43% of the total area planted, followed by the Eastern Cape (26%), Western Cape (18%), Mpumalanga (8%), Kwa Zulu Natal (3%), and Northern Cape (1% percent).

“While oranges are the biggest citrus type produced in South Africa and account for 53% of the total citrus area planted, there has been notable growth in the area planted to soft citrus and lemons/limes,” the report said, noting good profit margins from soft citrus and lemon production.

Export outlook

The USDA report said global exports of lemons and limes is forecast to increase by 8% to 370,000 metric tons in the 2019-20 marketing year. That compares with 343,000 metric tons in 2018-19.

Meanwhile, the export of oranges is forecast to increase by 11% to 1.25 million metric tons in 2019-20. The European Union remains South Africa’s largest export market for oranges, accounting for 40% of the total export market. The report said exports to Asia and the Middle East have grown ssteadily, and exports to the U.S. are expected to continue to grow based on expanding demand and the duty free access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

The USDA said a gradual shift from oranges to soft citrus exports is expected over time, as South African farmers supplying the U.S. market have been replanting their orchards from oranges to soft citrus in response to market preferences and the higher premium received in the U.S. market.

The report said South African exports of tangerines and mandarins is forecast to increase by 12% to 330,000 metric tons in the 2019-20, compared with 295,000 metric tons in 2018-19.

While the United Kingdom is the leading export market with 30%, the report said exports to the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunity Act have grown by an average of 15% over the past four seasons, reaching 13,695 metric tons in 2017-18.

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Mission Produce start South African avocado partnership

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:24:11 GMT

Mission Produce Inc. , Oxnard, is expanding its global avocado network with a partnership to market South African fruit to Europe and Asian markets, including China.

Mission Produce is partnering with South African exporter Core Fruit and ZZ2, which will “offer its production, packing and ecosystem creation know-how together with its avocado technical knowledge, resource base, local networks, nursery trees, packing facilities and it’s association with Criterion Africa Partners who have access to significant land holdings,” according to a news release from Mission Produce.

The partnership, known as Mission South Africa, plans to establish regional relationships with growers.

“The Mission Produce-ZZ2 relationship is a strong combination and demonstrates our commitment to expanding globally and leading the avocado industry,” Mission Produce President and CEO Steve Barnard said in the release.

“Southern Africa is an ideal source because of the region’s location, fruit quality and access to Europe and Asia,” Barnard said in the release.

The partnership is expected to add value to growers and assist in developing the avocado production potential of the region, according to the release, with a rapid expansion of Mission’s “vertical integration model in an advantageous supply window,” accord to the release.

Mission hired Lindie Stroebel to manage the program.

“We are excited for her to establish a presence and start building local connections,” Keith Barnard, vice president of global sourcing for Mission, said in the release. “The addition of South Africa will ensure that Mission Produce’s supply keeps pace with demand.”

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