South African summer citrus sets record

As of Sept. 16, South African citrus exports to the United States were up 16 percent from a year ago, setting an all-time volume high for Navel oranges. When the season started in late June, a normal crop and normal marketing volumes were expected this season, Mr. Smit told The Produce News in an interview at the Western Cape's Gloucester City office, which overlooks the Delaware River. "It was a good year for us," said Mr. Smit, who added that the season's last vessel -- a breakbulk ship -- bearing South African citrus is due in mid- October. "We had more oranges and Navels than we ever had before."

A record-high volume of 1.9 million boxes of South African Navels received in the United States was realized by mid-September. That volume represented two-thirds of the boxes earmarked for the United States, with the remainder coming on three more shipments. The mid-October finale will be the ninth vessel to arrive this summer, with all shipments coming into Delaware River ports. South African clementine volume to the United States will be down slightly in 2008, and Midknight Valencia oranges will also be down.

Mr. Smit said that "very little" South African citrus was shipped to the West Coast this year. Australian citrus is shipped into West Coast ports and tends to dominate that summer citrus market. Mr. Smit said that citrus production in the Western Cape is mostly steady. The increased production there is in late-variety Navels and late-producing clementines.

South Africa can't compete economically with California citrus, so South African marketers clear the supply line before California enters. "We know what we need to sell on a weekly basis and what inventory we have per size, per importer," Mr. Smit said. "It's a wonderful marketing scheme."