South African oranges are again the fruit of choice at the 2010 US Youth Soccer National Championships tournament, which is taking place at the Overland Park Soccer Complex in Kansas on 20-25 July.
This is the second year summer citrus is being made available by the Western Cape Citrus Producers’ Forum (WCCPF), the organisation of more than 350 South African producers of citrus approved to export to the US.
“We are delighted to again be the fruit sponsor of the 2010 US Youth Soccer National Championships,” said Joretha Geldenhuys, CEO of the WCCPF, in a press release.
“Soccer Moms throughout the US know that summer citrus is the perfect thirst quenching and energising snack for soccer players.”
WCCPF said it will distribute thousands of oranges to players and spectators during the tournament.
“These players comprise the best youth teams in the nation,” added Ms Geldenhuys. “It is only fitting they have access to the best citrus in the world. In providing a continuous supply of oranges, we hope to give that extra kick the players need to score their game-winning goals.
“Seedless South African summer citrus is known for its great flavour, nutrition and ease of peeling. The fruit is enormously popular among US retailers, who rely on the increasing availability of our products.”
This year WCCPF has maintained its preferred supplier status by meeting and exceeding USDA and FDA protocols since he body guarantees only the best fruit to the US market.
Fruit bound for the US is produced in the Cederberg Valley near Citrusdal; a region near Kimberley in the Northern Cape; and near the town of Upington along the Orange River – South Africa’s largest citrus-producing region.
Currently South Africa exports more than 40,000 tonnes of citrus per year to the US.
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