Summer Citrus from South Africa Celebrates 25 Years of Shipping to United States; Suhanra Conradie Comments
CITRUSDAL, SOUTH AFRICA - Just after celebrating its successful 25th season in 2023, Summer Citrus from South Africa (SCSA) is back to announce the kickoff of its 2024 harvesting season!
“We are officially 25 years on the sunny side and commencing into our 26th season with a healthy crop of sweet and delicious citrus fruit headed to the port of Philadelphia in the coming days and more to come throughout the summer months,” said Suhanra Conradie, SCSA Chief Executive Officer.
As the provider reports, shipments of citrus fruit from South Africa have more than doubled since 2019. To sustain shipping options and cater to the overall growth of its program, SCSA will be splitting its volumes equally between dedicated conventional vessels and container vessels in the Port of Philadelphia. The program is also supported by a group of focused service providers spanning the total supply chain in the U.S. and South Africa.
“It is important that we recognize the hard work and commitment of the service providers who have been part of our continued success story,” said Conradie. “We are serving one of the world’s most demanding markets, and adapting to the current state of the supply chain on any given day is a key factor of our business model. We have gained much momentum with our collaborative approach and intend to keep it going in 2024!”
The citrus provider will kick off the shipping season with its beloved Clementines, followed by Navel oranges and Star Ruby grapefruit. SCSA’s first vessel, the MSC Houston, is carrying fruit from Capetown, South Africa, and is expected to arrive in the U.S. at the Port of Philadelphia the first week of June, with weekly shipments continuing through the end of October, a press release stated.
As Conradie added, SCSA intends to stay connected with the industry with timely shipping, supply chain, and production updates via its trade newsletter. Any stakeholder seeking to stay up to date on the program is invited to subscribe by filling out this form.
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