There is renewed interest in the Indian market from South African grower-exporters, according to Anton Kruger, CEO of the Fresh Produce Exporters Forum.
“We have been in this market for 10 years, but we need to grow the market. Only around 9 per cent of our exports come here,” he told Fruitnet at the Fresh Produce India conference and expo in Mumbai last month (24 April).
“We have discovered over last two days of being here in Mumbai that there are great export opportunities for our avocados and citrus here in India. Also for lychees, and some limited opportunities for grapes,” Kruger said.
“India’s upper-class consumers and the country’s hospitality sector are increasingly demanding avocados.”
The question is how best to promote the fruit, he added.
“Perhaps we could use South African cricketers who play for teams here in India as ambassadors for South African fruit,” Kruger said.
