Summer Citrus from South Africa's Suhanra Conradie Reflects on the 2017 Season
CITRUSDAL, SOUTH AFRICA - Summer Citrus from South Africa (SCSA) is in the final stretch of its season, with two final shipments to arrive with Navels and Easy Peelers, along with the first shipment of the popular Midknight variety into the U.S. The last conventional vessel is slated to arrive in the Port of Philadelphia the week of October 9.
“We have established a unique collaboration with incredible logistics partners who are equally committed to meeting USDA requirements. Without dependability and service excellence from Seatrade who provides our dedicated cargo vessels as well as FPT Group who manages our Capetown loading facility, we would not be able to execute such a consistently strong program all season long,” said Suhanra Conradie, CEO. “In addition, we are fortunate to work closely with the government bodies involved in the pre-clearance process for our fruit, including USDA/APHIS, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, as well as the Perishable Product Export Control Board. All of these groups play a significant role in maintaining a well-managed and successful program year after year.”
With sophisticated logistics services and consolidated resources, SCSA has been able to maintain steady movement of fruit throughout the season. SCSA continues to provide the freshest and sweetest citrus varieties with their Midknight crop arriving at its peak of season with the last harvest of Navels and Easy Peelers entering the US with these final two vessels.
“2017 has been another exciting growth year for the summer citrus category, and we’ve been pleased that our group has been able to increase our support of US retail partners,” Conradie added. “We’ve enjoyed the 17th season and hope to replicate for years to come!”
To support the collaborative sales efforts of SCSA growers and importers, the brand collectively pursued consumer engagement with its second annual digital promotion, this year called Swing Into Summer. The campaign included a two phase online promotion, national influencer partnerships and social media outreach aimed at raising brand awareness and elevating in-season citrus options. The campaign tripled the number of consumer contacts opting in to receive information about summer citrus from South Africa, and they will continue to be nurtured with a year-round digital marketing strategy.
To schedule an appointment with Suhanra Conradie at Fresh Summit, contact Suhanra at [email protected], or visit the Global Connections Reception, sponsored by SCSA, Oct. 20 from 5:15 pm – 7 pm.
