SOUTH AFRICA - I learned early on in life that citrus is a quintessential summer eating experience, and imports to the United States help ensure that the good times keep rolling all season long. Summer Citrus from South Africa (SCSA) supplies are arriving on the East Coast, with some volumes expected to make their way to the Midwest and Southern states later this season.

“This past week, we discharged the largest conventional vessel our group has ever shipped, accounting for 7,500 pallets,” Suhanra Conradie, Chief Executive Officer, shared in a newsletter on July 14. “For the remainder of the season, we will continue to send weekly conventional vessels and containers in-between to meet the demand of the market. In terms of shipped volumes, our fruit basket offers 47 percent Easy Peelers, 42 percent Navel oranges, 8 percent Star Ruby, and 3 percent Cara Cara.”

By the end of week 28, SCSA packed 55 percent of its 2022 crop, the newsletter outlined. A reported 45 percent has shipped via seven conventional vessels plus containers. The majority of the 9,000 pallets in these containers will arrive in New York, with one vessel making a stop in Pennsylvania, and a number of containers planned to reach Savannah, Georgia, and Houston, Texas.

“The arrival of our first conventional vessel has traditionally been a big celebration and something we hoped to return to this season,” Conradie continued. “I'm happy to share that after two years, we finally had the opportunity to toast to the first vessel's arrival in Philadelphia.”

A video of the vessel’s arrival can be viewed here.

As the season continues to get underway, be sure to follow along with us at ANUK.

Summer Citrus from South Africa