BERLIN – Executives representing the top Hass avocado companies in the United States and South Africa today announced during the Fruit Logistica the establishment of the U.S.-South Africa Avocado Committee (USSAAC). The committee’s primary purpose is to work with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to obtain the necessary approvals to allow for the importation of Hass avocados from South Africa into the U.S.
This landmark committee is comprised of the top U.S. and South Africa avocado grower, packer, exporter and importer companies. The binational co-chairs of the committee are Zac Bard of Westfalia; Johannesburg, South Africa and Jim Donovan of Mission Produce; Oxnard, CA.
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) and its South African counterpart, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), are in the process of developing a Pest Risk Assessment. The committee’s first order of business will be to support the development of such Pest Risk Assessment for the U.S. importation of South Africa Hass avocados.
“The USSAAC binational committee is a first for the agricultural industry, and signals an exciting new era of innovation and partnership in bringing high quality South African avocados to the U.S.,” explained South Africa co-chair Zac Bard.
“The global demand for Hass avocados is increasing every year, especially in the U.S. which this year is expected to reach 2 billion pounds,” added U.S. co-chair Jim Donovan. “Once all approvals are secured, the U.S. could see the first shipment of avocados from South Africa in the near future.”
The USSAAC will hold its next 2015 meetings in September during the VIII World Avocado Congress in Lima, Peru and in October during the Produce Marketing Association’s annual Fresh Summit in Atlanta, GA.
South African members include:
- Mark Baker, H.L. Halls & Sons, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa
- Zac Bard, Westfalia, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Trevor Dukes, Univeg, Tzaneen, Limpopo, South Africa
- Clive Garrett, ZZ2, Mooketsi, Limpopo, South Africa
- Wiedse Kruger, Afrupro, Tzaneen, Limpopo, South Africa
U.S. members include:
- Matthew Clark, Eco Farms Avocados, Temecula, CA
- Jim Donovan, Mission Produce, Oxnard, CA
- Bruce Dowhan, Giumarra, Escondido, CA
- Reuben Hofshi, Del Rey Avocados, Fallbrook, CA
- Rankin McDaniel, McDaniel Fruit Company, Fallbrook, CA
- Kellen Newhouse, WestPak Avocado, Murrieta, CA
- Dana Thomas, Index Fresh, Riverside, CA
Source: U.S.-South Africa Avocado Committee (USSAAC)
