Following the successful
export of South African
apples to China
this season (May to
September), the fruit export
industry is positive that this
will soon pave the way for
market access to the Far East
for other locally grown fruit,
including pears and stone fruit.
Chief executive of the Fresh
Produce Exporters’ Forum
(FPEF), Anton Kruger, told
FTW that negotiations were
under way to obtain access for
various fruit types in priority
growth markets in the Far
East/South East Asia.
“We believe that the process
to formalise further protocols
will be fast-tracked given that
the fruit exporting industry
could prove compliance with
international best practice in
terms of food safety and phytosanitary
requirements,” he said.
Chairman of the South
African Apple and Pear
Producers’ Association
(Saappa), Nicholas Dicey,
agreed, noting that negotiating
market access for other fruit
should be easier as South
Africa now had a better
understanding of the market
requirements and whom to deal
with during negotiations.
“Further market access
will support further growth
and economic development
in South Africa which in turn
will enhance land reform
transformation and new
plantings in the industry,” he
said.
Thomas Mouton, manager
of apple and pear marketing at
Core Fruit – which sent the first
consignment of Royal Beaut
apples to China at the start
of the season – said that the
opening of the Chinese market
in December last year was a
“huge breakthrough” for the
South Africa industry.
INSERT & CAPTION
We believe that the
process to formalise
further protocols will
be fast-tracked.
– Anton Kruger
There is good demand in China for Royal Beaut, Fuji and
Granny Smith (pictured here) apples out of South Africa.
