Asda has begun the sale of grapefruit from Mozambique after a rescue mission was carried out on a dilapidated orchard.
The retailer, via International Produce (IPL), has been working on the project for more than a year and has begun its first season.
IPL is working with a South African export company, Komatie Citrus, which is the marketing arm of Bosveld Citrus and has 50 per cent shares in the Mozambique farm with development company GAPI.
The farm was left derelict before new management was installed at the site, immediately clearing all the orchards from weeds and reinstalling irrigation systems. It also put good agricultural practices in place in order to comply with GlobalGap pesticide rules.
IPL citrus buyer Adriaan Botha told FPJ: “Approximately 30 per cent of our southern hemisphere grapefruit programme is from Mozambique. We have seen good growth in the grapefruit category this season which we are very pleased with.
“The beauty of the project is that we are helping and uplifting people in Mozambique but we also doing the best for our Asda customers, giving them superior quality fruit.”
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