The United States government has announced the opening up of several new ports for the import of citrus products from South Africa, further facilitating two-way trade.
The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service published a final notice in the US Federal Register on November 5 approving the use of additional port options for South African citrus growers.
Previously, the SA citrus industry was limited to the use of only four ports and has long sought access to other US ports.
With this announcement, exports will be allowed to any US port that has cold storage facilities, including the strategically important ports of Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia.
“The opening of these new ports of destination for citrus, a move the US Mission in South Africa has been advocating for, will help facilitate trade between our two countries going forward, providing flexibility to US retailers and wholesalers, lowering transportation costs, and broadening the reach of South African citrus to other regions within the US market,” US Ambassador to South Africa, Lana Marks, said.
Justin Chadwick, the CEO of the South African Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA), said that the opening up of all ports meant that SA citrus could now reach many more consumers in the United States.
