Philadelphia, Pa. – The first 2011 shipment of South African summer citrus (www.summercitrus.com ) arrived in Philadelphia aboard the Cape Belle today. South African Summer Citrus is increasingly finding favor among consumers every year due to its excellent nutritional quality and delicious taste. It marks the first of twelve shipments scheduled for arrival in the U.S. at approximately 10 day intervals until late October.
South African citrus exports to the U.S. include Clementines, Navels, Midknights (a Valencia varietal), and Star Ruby grapefruit, which were introduced to the U.S. in the 2010 season for the first time. This first vessel carried 91,000 cartons of Navels and 66,000 cartons of Clementines.
Since 1999, shipments of South African summer citrus fruits have increased from 50 tons to about 41,000 tons shipped last year. It is expected that 2011 shipments at a similar level to last year.
The fruit is sold at many national, regional and specialty supermarkets and club strores throughout the country. Locally the fruit is available at many chains, including Whole Foods, WalMart, Wegmans, Acme, Giant, Genuardi’s, Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s.
“The U.S. markets are extremely important to South African summer citrus growers,” says Suhanra Conradie, CEO of the Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum (WCCPF), a consortium of 350 South African growers approved to export summer citrus to the U.S.
“We are proud of our growers and they are proud of the fruit they grow. They continue to meet the increasing demand for South African citrus products while adhering to the strict governmental guidelines for quality and safety. South African citrus growers have developed a reputation for providing some of the finest citrus products in the world.”
Conradie added that, unlike fruit from other countries, fruit from South Africa remains fresher and has a longer shelf life in stores and in consumers’ homes because it is neither chemically treated nor fumigated on arrival in the U. S. These factors shorten the shelf life of the fruit. Fruit from South Africa undergoes rigorous inspection by the U.S.D.A. prior to leaving South Africa and again when it arrives in Philadelphia.
“Our citrus has always been recognized as being deliciously juicy and sweet, easy to peel and very nutritious. The 2011 crop will be no exception. We view the U.S. market with its discerning consumers as a premium destination for our fruit and only ship the very best we grow,” she says.
With its hot, dry climate, various regions of South Africa are conducive to producing sweet and juicy products. The country’s largest growing area along the Orange River stretches for more than 170 miles. 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.
Next to Spain, South Africa is the second largest exporter of citrus in the world, producing 60 percent of all citrus fruits grown in the Southern Hemisphere. Other than the United States, South Africa’s primary export markets include the European Union, Far East, Middle East, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the rest of Africa.
The WCCPF facilitates logistical, marketing and sales support coordination of products for its members. Its mission is to maintain and expand its role as the preferred supplier in the U.S. and throughout the world, and continue to be a reliable supplier of safe summer citrus for the U.S. and all global markets.
For more information, visit www.summercitrus.com or find South African Summer Citrus, including healthy recipes featuring South African citrus, at www.facebook.com/summercitrus.
Source: South African Summer Citrus
