DG Fruit is expecting its first direct shipment of new-season oranges from Zimbabwe next week on board the Dal Kalahari.
Chris Rowe, DG managing director, said: “We have our first arrivals of new-season oranges from Zimbabwe, all packed under the Don Mario brand, due on Monday in the UK.
“The brand was initially created 15 years ago for Italian grapes to be marketed by De Groot International. Since then, it has become a respected brand for products from all over the world. Only the finest quality produce can be packed under Don Mario, with strict quality and food safety guidelines.”
DG has been bringing in Star Ruby grapefruit from Zim already this season, which has been very well received, and now expects to welcome weekly container arrivals of the full calendar of varieties, starting with Benny Valencia, then Delta and finally Valencia Late from the southern African country until the first week of November.
Rowe said: “Ideal growing conditions for Benny Valencia mean the variety is generally associated with Zimbabwe. Fruit is highly coloured and very clean.”
Fruit is trucked from DG’s suppliers’ packhouses down to Durban in South Africa, where it is loaded onto container ships bound for Europe.
