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South African citrus season begins
South Africa
Monday 09 July 2007
The season's first break-bulk refrigerated ship carrying South African citrus lifted pallets onto the dock of Gloucester Terminal LLC, here, June 19.
The ship carried fruit for seven importers, according to Tom Mastromarco, director of fruit marketing and customer service at the Gloucester Terminal. Among the brands represented in the terminal's warehouse were "Unifrutti," "Darling Clementine" and "Seald Sweet."
Importer Marc Solomon, president of Fisher Capespan USA LLC, which is housed a few blocks down the Delaware River from Gloucester Terminal, returned June 14 after spending two weeks in South Africa. He had been in the clementine production area of the western Cape for four or five days. In this rainy season, it rained "much heavier than normal" for the entire time he was in the western Cape.
This rain caused growers to shift fruit that might have gone to the United States to closer markets. "No one wants to ship 'risk' fruit" [as] far as the U.S.," Mr. Solomon said. The United States is a "more discerning market" than others available to South African citrus shippers. The rain may cause problems for growers, but this won't be a problem for the U.S. industry, he reiterated. "All the fruit shipped into the U.S. will be fine."
Because of the rain and the diversion of South African Navel oranges to closer markets, Mr. Solomon expects about a 10 percent Navel decrease from originally anticipated volumes to North America.
Clementines will be more affected by the rain and will probably have a 20-30 percent decline in volume to these shores, Mr. Solomon said.
The ship carried fruit for seven importers, according to Tom Mastromarco, director of fruit marketing and customer service at the Gloucester Terminal. Among the brands represented in the terminal's warehouse were "Unifrutti," "Darling Clementine" and "Seald Sweet."
Importer Marc Solomon, president of Fisher Capespan USA LLC, which is housed a few blocks down the Delaware River from Gloucester Terminal, returned June 14 after spending two weeks in South Africa. He had been in the clementine production area of the western Cape for four or five days. In this rainy season, it rained "much heavier than normal" for the entire time he was in the western Cape.
This rain caused growers to shift fruit that might have gone to the United States to closer markets. "No one wants to ship 'risk' fruit" [as] far as the U.S.," Mr. Solomon said. The United States is a "more discerning market" than others available to South African citrus shippers. The rain may cause problems for growers, but this won't be a problem for the U.S. industry, he reiterated. "All the fruit shipped into the U.S. will be fine."
Because of the rain and the diversion of South African Navel oranges to closer markets, Mr. Solomon expects about a 10 percent Navel decrease from originally anticipated volumes to North America.
Clementines will be more affected by the rain and will probably have a 20-30 percent decline in volume to these shores, Mr. Solomon said.
