The Philadelphia and South African produce community marked the beginning of the South Africa summer citrus season by celebrating the first pallet unloaded from the first shipment at the Holt Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, N.J.
South Africa’s Ambassador to the U.S., the Honorable Ebrahim Rasool, and the Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum (WCCPF) hosted industry partners, members of Congress and the press at the event on August 16, 2011. The event highlighted the importance of South African summer citrus and how expanded trade between Africa and the U.S. benefits the regional and broader U.S. economy.
“This is an exciting moment for us,” said Gerrit van der Merwe, chairman of the WCCPF and co-host of the event. “Since we began shipping citrus to the U.S. in 1999, we have built a program from some 50 tons shipped then to more than 40,000 tons to be shipped this year. This program has helped build a category of summer citrus in the U.S. where before citrus in the summer months was less available.”
Ambassador Rasool, former premier (governor) of South Africa's Western Cape Province spoke about the importance of the business and of trade preferences the U.S. extends to African countries under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (A.G.O.A.). He explained how the trade provisions are encouraging the emergence of a new middle class of consumers in Africa — 300 million strong — and spurring demand for American goods and services.
“We are pleased the Ambassador chose to recognize our program,” said van der Merwe. “It represents many thousands of hardworking families and workers all along the supply chain from South Africa and across the ocean to here in New Jersey and beyond.”
During the event the WCCPF, along with importers Fischer Capespan and AMC, donated a pallet of oranges to Philabundance, a regional food bank program.
Source: PerishableNews.com
