The Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa CEO Justin Chadwick expects local lemon producers to export more tons of lemon throughout this year to China after having exported 225 tons to the market since the start of the year.
"To date, only (225 tons) of lemons have been exported to China; it is very early in the season and we expect considerably more to go as the season ramps up," he stated.
South Africa is a leading lemon producer in Africa. The country now has the capability of exporting lemons due to a revised lemon protocol. According to the previous agreement, signed bilaterally in 2006, all citrus exports from South Africa were required to undergo cold treatment for 24 days at or below 0.6 degrees Celsius to prevent fruit flies and false codling moths.
Following the implementation of the new agreement, lemons will have to be chilled for a minimum of 18 days at a temperature of 3 degrees Celsius. The revised trade changes could create thousands of jobs within the lemon sector, generating revenue of more than 330 million Rand (22.78 million US dollars).
Chadwick said he would be traveling to Zimbabwe this week to resolve issues that would enable Zimbabwe to export lemons to China next year after the country signed its protocol last December.
Source: xinhuanet.com
