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With slow import start, Fisher Capespan anticipates South Africa
South Africa
Monday 17 December 2007
With the Chilean fruit deal running two weeks late and the Brazilian grape deal over, Marc Solomon, president of Fisher Capespan, is anxiously awaiting the new year and the start of grape imports from South Africa.
Furthermore, "Spanish clementine volume is down. It's a frustrating time" for retailers and their importers, who are located along the Delaware River waterfront.
Fisher Capespan, which has offices here and in Montreal, has found a strong niche in the North American market with seedless wintertime grapes and is rapidly building its volume in the category. "In the winter, South Africa is the only source of organic grapes, and we are the largest importer," he said. "We will increase those imports as demand grows." South African organic grape production is expanding.
Mr. Solomon said that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service requirements allow importation of South African grapes that are certified-organic depending on preclearance. Chilean grapes must be fumigated, so they do not qualify as organic.
Starting with these grapes, Fisher Capespan is growing its organic category with organic stone fruit and apples from Argentina and Chile, plus organic Chilean cherries and plums. "These are some of our organic products. We are looking at others. We are making a significant effort to expand our organic offerings because of increased demand from our customers. We intend to make it an important part of our business," he said.
For Fisher Capespan, the Chilean cherry deal began in the last days of November with airfreight into Miami, New York City and the West Coast. The weather during production in Chile has been good, he said.
South Africa's organic grapes will start to arrive in container volumes in the first week of January, with white seedless varieties coming into Port Elizabeth, NJ, for the U.S. and Canadian markets.
Later in January, South African organic red seedless, Red Globes and black seeded grapes will be entering the North American market.
Furthermore, "Spanish clementine volume is down. It's a frustrating time" for retailers and their importers, who are located along the Delaware River waterfront.
Fisher Capespan, which has offices here and in Montreal, has found a strong niche in the North American market with seedless wintertime grapes and is rapidly building its volume in the category. "In the winter, South Africa is the only source of organic grapes, and we are the largest importer," he said. "We will increase those imports as demand grows." South African organic grape production is expanding.
Mr. Solomon said that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service requirements allow importation of South African grapes that are certified-organic depending on preclearance. Chilean grapes must be fumigated, so they do not qualify as organic.
Starting with these grapes, Fisher Capespan is growing its organic category with organic stone fruit and apples from Argentina and Chile, plus organic Chilean cherries and plums. "These are some of our organic products. We are looking at others. We are making a significant effort to expand our organic offerings because of increased demand from our customers. We intend to make it an important part of our business," he said.
For Fisher Capespan, the Chilean cherry deal began in the last days of November with airfreight into Miami, New York City and the West Coast. The weather during production in Chile has been good, he said.
South Africa's organic grapes will start to arrive in container volumes in the first week of January, with white seedless varieties coming into Port Elizabeth, NJ, for the U.S. and Canadian markets.
Later in January, South African organic red seedless, Red Globes and black seeded grapes will be entering the North American market.
