0 tons of South African citrus were exported to the U.S. in 2013.Grower-shippers sent 39,463 tons of navels, midknights, clementines, cara caras and grapefruit this season, according to a news release from the Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum, the consortium of about 230 growers approved to export to the U.S.
“It has been a very good season for our citrus,” Suhanra Conradie, the forum’s chief executive officer, said in the release. “When our fruit arrived, domestic fruit was no longer available, so the market was strong for our navel oranges.”
South African citrus exports to the U.S. began in early July and continued through mid-October.
About 28,715 tons of navels, 6,506 tons of midknights, 2,921 tons of clementines, 984 tons of cara caras and 337 tons of grapefruit were exported from South Africa to the U.S.
EU ban not expected to affect exports to U.S.
A European Union ban on most citrus exports from South Africa is not expected to affect citrus exports to the U.S., Conradie said.
EU officials confirmed in November they are banning shipments over concerns of fruit being infected with citrus black spot.
“South African citrus that comes to the U.S. is from the Western and Northern Cape regions – areas that are unaffected by black spot,” Conradie said.
