South Africa Citrus Growers Named Country’s Farmers Of The Year

Philadelphia, Pa, December 20, 2010 – The owners of South Africa’s ALG Estates, one of South Africa’s leading producers and exporters of citrus to the United States, have been awarded the prestigious honor of Farmer of the Year by the society of Agricultural Writers of South Africa. This annual award, now in its 33rd year is the country’s most coveted agricultural prize.

Brothers Gerrit and Alwyn van der Merwe, and Gerrit van der Merwe, Jr. earned the accolades based on their deserving farming and scientific agricultural merit and exemplifying achievements with good planning and dedication in all kinds of conditions and environments.

Gerrit and Alwyn van der Merwe established the Citrus Producers Trust, opening the U.S. market for South African exporters. Now known as the Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum (WCCPF), Gerrit currently is the chairman of the WCCPF, a consortium of some 300 South African growers eligible to export summer citrus to the U.S.

“We are thrilled with this honor and so proud of all our workers,” said Gerrit van der Merwe. “While our fruit is exported all over the world, most is sent to the U.S. for summer citrus consumption. It is a privilege to fulfill market needs in the U.S. with fresh and delicious fruit and to be recognized as a fine producer of citrus.” ALG Estate citrus can be found in WalMart, Costco, Wegmans, Whole Foods and other leading grocery retail markets across the country.

Located in Citrusdal in the Western Cape about 2 hours northwest of Cape Town, ALG Estates has been in the van der Merwe family since 1750. It is comprised of five farms, produces 26 varietals of citrus, and pioneered the practice of orchard pruning resulting in increased production, less use of water, and a reduction in the reliance on pesticides. ALG Estates operates its own pack house where the fruit is processed and packed, and employs 120 permanent staff and up to 500 more when the fruit is harvested.

ALG Estates is an esteemed and innovative leader in the South African citrus industry. From 1975 to 2010, production has grown from 1,940 tons to 15,800 tons, an annual growth of more than 20 percent. In addition, their innovations have extended the citrus producing season from 5 months to 10 months – the longest citrus season in South Africa. Gerrit and Alywn have recognized the value of fair labor and fair trade, and ALG Estates is an accredited Fair Trade member.

South African citrus exports to the U.S. began in 1999. All citrus bound for the U.S. from South Africa undergoes USDA inspections to ensure compliance with all U.S. regulations. South Africa is the second largest exporter of citrus in the world and produces 60 percent of all citrus grown in the Southern Hemisphere. Fruit bound for U.S. consumers comes mostly from the region near Citrusdal and Clanwilliam, the Northern Cape near Kimberly and the northwest along the Orange River, near Upington.

Source: Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum