UK importer Capespan has received its first South African Royal Gala of the season.
The consignment docked on the MSC Liberty and was delivered to wholesaler Barton & Redman in Manchester on 20 March.
The firm’s Matthew Barton said: “The Cape brand is always well received by my customers, who recognise the quality associated with the brand.”
The fruit traded very briskly on an eager market.
Capespan’s wholesale account manager Matt O’Donohoe said: “It’s always nice to see Cape-branded fruit first in the wholesale market, setting such high standards.”
With European stocks having been sold very quickly and ending in early March, southern hemisphere fruit is arriving on a strong market. Capespan reports that growers in South Africa expect volumes to be down this season, with less fruit having been set aside for controlled atmosphere storage, and the company is forecasting excellent eating quality.
