The Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum, based in Citrusdal, South Africa, has an extensive summer citrus program that includes clementines, Navel oranges, Cara Cara oranges, Midknight oranges and Star Ruby grapefruit.

“South Africa’s citrus arrives in early July with clementines and early Navels,” said Suhanra Conradie, chief executive officer for WCCPF. “The demand for clementines is expanding. The majority arrives through July, and volumes of Navels increase through July, August and toward mid-September. Navels are popular during August and September, with back to school being a high-demand period.”

Midknight oranges are delicious and very much in demand in late September and October, according to Conradie. Cara Caras are red-flesh oranges that “are brilliant in flavor,” she added. Star Ruby grapefruit volumes will arrive in the U.S. throughout the season, with higher volumes expected than in past years.

Johan Mouton, chairman of Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum.“The South African summer citrus program is a complement to the U.S. domestic citrus program,” said Conradie, “The WCCPF, a consortium of growers approved to export to the U.S., does not compete with the domestic citrus, but rather complements it by arriving after the U.S. citrus season has ended.”

Over the last several years, the WCCPF has shipped more than 41,000 tons of citrus to the U.S., and it expects that overall volumes will be about the same in 2013.

South African summer citrus goes to retail grocery stores either via direct procurement programs or import partners. Conradie said that ultimately, the U.S. consumer is the real customer.

“They expect high-quality citrus that is sweet, juicy and delicious,” she said. “Product from South Africa has all of these attributes. Retailers have come to rely on the consistency of quality as well as the regular shipping program that brings fruit to the U.S. every 10 days or so to assure the best and highest quality is available to retailers and their customers.”

South Africa joins Spain and Turkey as being among the larger producers of summer citrus.

Citrus fruits produced in South Africa reach every part of the globe with only 3 percent reaching the U.S. This year represents the 14th year the forum has exported summer citrus to the U.S.

This year also notes a milestone for the forum in that it has named a new chairman, Johan Mouton, and co-chairman, Gert Kotze.

The WCCPF is comprised of 236 growers based in the Western and Northern Cape regions of South Africa. While many of these growers produce and ship citrus to other regions of the world, the WCCPF is organized only to manage the citrus program to the United States.

Before the citrus leaves South Africa, it is inspected and pre-cleared by both South African and U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors, both of which remain at the port of Cape Town for the duration of the summer citrus season. This assures only the best of the best is shipped to the U.S.

The majority of the fruit is shipped in conventional refrigerated vessels, although some fruit is shipped in containers. During transit, the citrus is kept at about 32 degrees, which keeps the fruit fresh. On arrival in the U.S. it is inspected again.

“The inspection process makes it unique to any other citrus program,” noted Conradie, “Only the best citrus comes to the U.S.

“The South Africa summer citrus program has really helped establish the summer citrus category, and the quality of the fruit has been reliable during the entire 13 years in which it has arrived in the U.S.,” she continued. “The rigorous commitment to quality is unwavering. It is that quality that sets it apart from all other imported summer options. Retailers and importers know the difference and prefer it.”

The WCCPF places constant focus on the quality of the fruit, and only the highest quality is shipped to the U.S. market. While its citrus is widely available in the U.S., the strongest concentration has been in the East.

“We see opportunity for expansion and growth beyond the East,” said Conradie. “Promotional programs are a big part of visibility and fruit sales. We think a greater presence of information at the point of sale will improve movement. Promotional programs over the last several years have been successful to raise visibility for South African summer citrus.

“For 2013, the branding will take a different look and the South African connection will be more evident than in previous years,” she continued. “Our growers participate in the promotional programs and are often in the retail stores at the point of purchase to meet consumers. It goes a long way to help people feel a connection to the sources of what they buy to put on their tables.”

He added that the relationships the forum has with its importer partners and retailers are imperative to a successful program.

“We value these relationships and we rely on the back and forth of communication to assure that we all meet one another’s needs,” she said.

The summer citrus program from South Africa to the U.S. has created jobs on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

“While the benefits are great for U.S. consumers to enjoy the best citrus from South Africa in the summer when U.S. citrus is not available, the economic benefits in both countries are equally important for job creation and growth,” she said.