S. African citrus season starts at Central Fruit and Beltran

Tholen - The South African citrus season has started again at Central Fruit and Beltran, two Group A de Witte import companies. "The first containers with Clementines and Novas were unloaded this weekend and put on the market yesterday," says Eric Dierick of Beltran. Like every year, Central Fruit receives the early soft citrus varieties from Safpro. "Safpro and Cape Citrus are South African packers for our home brands Cibel and Cebon. From Safpro we also get our other products such as hard fruit and grapes."

Less volumes to Belgium and the Netherlands
Eric expects less volumes of Clementines to arrive in Belgium and the Netherlands this season. "This is due to the large demand of German and English supermarkets. The smaller volumes to Belgium and the Netherlands will definitely influence sale prices. We are expecting to receive the agreed programmes from both suppliers and hope for a bit more." He says that they notice little from Citrus Black Spot. "The only thing is that there are more inspections. Last year we didn't have any problems. Hopefully this year that will be the same."

Next week, the first containers with lemons and navel oranges will arrive at Central Fruit. They are packaged in Cibel, Cebon and Safpro. "It rained at the Eastern Cape last week, and fruit was not harvested nor packaged, but for us there are already good volumes of Navel and Navelate on the water."

Cibel citrus is sold by Central Fruit and Cebon citrus by Beltran.

For more information: (Beltran)
Eric Dierick
Group Achiel De Witte
Beltran NV
Werkhuizenkaai 112/154
Magazijn 35/36
1000 Brussel - Belgium
T: + 32 (0)2 216 45 39
F:+ 32 (0)2 245 70 43

For more information: (Central Fruit)
William Willems
T: +32 2 242 62 00
F: +32 2 245 86 15
www.centralfruit.be