US fruit importer-distributor Seald Sweet has announced in a press release plans to import citrus from Australia into the West Coast of the US during the course of this summer.
The Florida-based company, which is part of the Univeg group, will receive the first arrivals around the first week of August at the Port of Long Beach in California.
Seald Sweet said the move will further expand its well-established summer citrus programmes and consolidate its year-round citrus offer following the USDA ruling to allow Uruguayan citrus imports into the US.
“This is a great opportunity for Seald Sweet to expand our current product supply of premium citrus and to continue growing our summer citrus programs,” said Dave Brocksmith, Seald Sweet’s category manager for Australian citrus.
“We have a long history of receiving premium citrus on the East coast from South Africa, Chile and Peru and we can now expand our offerings to our customers on the west coast.”
Seald Sweet said its Australian programme primarily comprises a 1,500ha fresh citrus-growing operation in Mildura, which benefits from over 30 years of experience in citrus exports and fresh fruit and vegetable production.
Seald Sweet’s first West Coast arrivals of Australian citrus are due to arrive around 3 August and will continue into October.
