South Africa’s fresh produce industry has joined the rest of the country in mourning the death of former President Nelson Mandela, saying that he had opened up opportunities for business which allowed the industry to grow in the global fresh produce world.
“Mr Mandela’s release from prison in 1990 can be linked to sustained lobbying and pressure during the latter part of the 1980s by fruit industry leaders, who believed that the previous system of government could no longer be justified,” explains Louis Kriel snr, CEO of fruit exporter Unifruco at the time of Mandela's release.
“This opened the door for negotiations to take place, the levelling of the playing field in the international produce world and a peaceful transition in our country. The world responded by welcoming our fruit into their retail outlets and into their homes.”
With the reason for politically inspired resistance to buying South African fruit having disappeared, famous South African fruit brands such as Cape and Outspan became the toast of the town as the international community welcomed the country's fresh produce.
“This was the start of the Mandela legacy in the South African fruit industry and something the thousands of growers and the hunderds of thousands of people working in the industry will be eternally grateful for as we remember this great man,” adds Kriel.
Hortgro chairperson Nicholas Dicey paid tribute to Mandela’s commitment to lead the country in adopting free market policies and creating the environment of reconciliation that was required in transforming the country.
“This opened up incredible opportunities for the fruit industry in global markets,' Dicey notes. 'The growth in our export industry over the past two decades is evidence of this.”
Johan Mouton, chairman of the Western Cape Citrus Producers’ Forum (WCCPF) comments that citrus growers honour Nelson Mandela as one of South Africa’s greatest statesman, if not the greatest.
“He was indeed a gift to South Africa at the right time,' says Mouton. 'We hope that his legacy of reconciliation as a Rainbow Nation continues to live in the hearts of all South Africans.”
Former President Mandela interacted closely in a number of ways with the South African fruit sectors. During the years before the first democratic elections, leaders in the fresh produce sector worked with future government ministers to support the development of future government policies. Immediately after his inaugaration as the first democratically elected president of the country, the fruit industry collaborated with the government to arrange the first international cultural exchange under the new leadership when it sponsored the performances of the Cape Town City Ballet in London. Mandela was an enthusiastic supporter of this.
During his presidency the fruit industry joined his rural social development programme by co-sponsoring the building of schools and centres for senior citizens in the rural regions: “When you got the phone call to dinner at the presidency, you knew what was coming, but there was no way in which you could refuse to get involved in the light of his incredible enthusiasm and the presence he commanded’” says Kriel.
Mandela's encounter with legendary table grape grower Piet Karsten on a visit to the Orange River is well documented. When 'Madiba' stepped off the aircraft, he walked straight to Karsten, whom he had never met and who was standing amongst a number of people in the welcoming committee. “Mr Karsten,’ Madiba said, “how nice to meet you, I have heard so much about you.” The smiling Karsten, lost for words, simply said: “You are welcome Mr President.”
The Mandela connection with the fresh produce industry continued after he retired. In early 2001, through the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, he personally called on consumers and the retail trade in the UK to support black fruit growers by buying their produce when the Thandi brand was launched in London.
In recent years Nelson Mandela’s birthday in July became the rallying point for many community initiatives across the fruit industry to help improved the lives of less fortunate people.
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