US: South African summer citrus reports strong 2013 season

The 2013 South African Summer Citrus season has concluded after a strong season. “It has been a very good season for our citrus,” said Suhanra Conradie, CEO of the Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum (W.C.C.P.F.), the consortium of about 230 South African growers approved to export citrus to the U.S. “In our 14th year, the volumes consistently have been +/- 40,000 tonnes each year. This season brought 39,462.98 tonnes to the U.S.”

Beginning in early July and arriving every 10 days on conventional or refrigerated ships to Philadelphia, or containers to Newark, New Jersey through mid-October, 2,920.50 tonnes of clementines or easy peelers, 28,715.40 tonnes of navels, 6,505.80 tonnes of Midknight oranges, 337 tonnes of grapefruit, and 983.85 tonnes of Cara-Cara was exported to the U.S.

The fruit is shipped in 15 kg cartons and is repacked by U.S. service providers into three or five pound bags for retail stores.

“The first hallmark of our program is the growers’ disciplined compliance with U.S.D.A. protocols coupled with collaboration on shipping volumes,” said Ms. Conradie. “A real time information flow among growers, importers, and retailers enables us to read the market so that neither too much nor too little fruit reaches the marketplace.”

South Africa exported nearly 40,000 tonnes of citrus to the U.S. in 2013

South Africa is the world’s second largest exporter of citrus next to Spain, with only three percent exported to the U.S. The South African citrus sold in the United States comes primarily from the region near Citrusdal about two hours northwest of Cape Town, the Northern Cape near Kimberly, and the northwest along the Orange River, near Upington. “We value the opportunity to export to the U.S. It is a very important one for South Africa’s strengthening economic position,” Ms. Conradie added.

For more information, visit www.summercitrus.com