This season will see the first persimmon exports for South African company Lucerne Fresh. The Lucerne Agri Group bought a packhouse in Buffeljags (Swellendam area), together with the ANB Investments Group and have now appointed the marketing affiliate Lucerne Fresh to manage the marketing and sales of the fruit that is packed at the facility.
“In general, it has been a difficult summer for growing in the Cape, but in contrast it has been favourable for the persimmon crop,” said Juan-Ivan Smuts, CEO at Lucerne Agri Investments.
“The persimmon fruit is looking very nice, it’s a good clean crop. Our first picking was in the 2nd week of April and we expect to continue through to the end of June, we will then commence our storage program until the end of July.”
Juan-Ivan aims to export around 800,000 cartons between the main export markets of the UK and the EU as well as to the Middle and Far East markets, with a small volume going to Canada. 300,000 cartons will go to the local retailers and the municipal markets.
Lucerne Agri have a diverse portfolio of produce of fruit and vegetables and persimmons fit right in between the stone fruit and citrus export seasons.
The local market persimmons will be packed under the company’s Lucerne brand , with some volumes under retailer’s brands and the export fruit will be packed in the newly launched Honey Drops brand.
“I believe persimmon is a product which has never really reached its full potential, but with a good effort on the marketing side we can get it on the shelves and into the shopping baskets and really grow the business,” concludes Juan-Ivan.
For more information:
Juan-Ivan Smuts
Lucerne Agri Investments
Tel: +27 726010989
ji@lucerneagri.co.za
lucernefresh.co.za