CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - With the upcoming arrival of 3,900 pallets of Clementines and Navel Oranges at The Port of Philadelphia, Summer Citrus from South Africa (SCSA) has officially kicked off its 2022 season.

“Quality of fruit this season is excellent, and volumes are on-par with what we anticipated,” said Suhanra Conradie, Chief Executive Officer. “Retailers should be prepped, stocked, and ready for the busy citrus demand this summer.”

This will be the first conventional vessel to arrive in the U.S. this season, a press release explained. Based on current market demand, Easy Peelers, which are part of the shipment, are now the most significant portion of SCSA’s product offering, accounting for almost 50 percent of shipments this season.

While this season is highly anticipated, the supplier perceives some challenges due to logistics and supply chain hurdles. SCSA will not be able to ship containers directly to Packer Avenue, Philadelphia, which would have accounted for almost 30 percent of shipments this summer.

“It is no secret that there are issues with the supply chain and logistics, however, our sophisticated business model ensures that we are prepared and able to adjust plans as needed,” explained Conradie.

In order to offset some of the logistical issues, SCSA will be loading additional conventional vessels with containers that will be shipped from Port Newark in New Jersey. Some larger importers will also be adding the Port of Savannah, Georgia, as the port of entry for containers from Cape Town.

“We are thankful to all of our business and logistics partners who make every season possible AND successful,” Conradie added.

For more updates on SCSA’s upcoming season, look for our little green apple logo.

Summer Citrus from South Africa