The US government has promised support to South African citrus producers when it comes to an export programme for their fruit.

The US consul general in Cape Town, Moosa Valli, during a visit to Citrusdal in the Western Cape, said the US government would provide support to remove any obstacles that may affect shipments.

Valli’s visit took place following a recent incident in the US when false codling moth larvae was found in a consignment of South African citrus, resulting in a temporary disruption in the export programme and increased surveillance by United States Department of Agriculture inspection teams.

He assured growers that the US fully supported their export programme to the United States. “It is the intension of the US Government’s African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) to encourage and assist exports from the continent to the United States.

“We are still on track with negotiations for a free trade agreement which will entrench the benefits that South African growers now enjoy under AGOA and which will place them in a far better position.”

Valli said he was impressed by the way in which the whole farming community is benefiting from the citrus export programme to the United States.

Responding to the comments Piet Smit, chairman of the South African USA Citrus Growers Association, said that the export programme to the US represented a lifeline to growers in South Africa. “We will struggle financially, perhaps fail altogether, if we cannot grow, pack and export our citrus fruit to the US and if we have to depend only on non-US markets.”

He said that exports have grown from a mere 600 tons in 1999 to 41 000 tons five years later, with a turnover of around R330 million. “We expect our export volume to be very similar this year compared with last year, but are hoping to increase turnover by 12 per cent to about R370 million.”

Smit said success has not come about easily and that much needed to be done to ensure the long term success of citrus exports to the United States. “We need to streamline the programme and remove some of the risks, particularly those arising from strict phyto sanitary regulations, a long and costly supply chain, anti-trust laws in South Africa and the US and the difficulties caused by the false codling moth larvae.”

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