New USA Citrus Season kicks off ( Thursday 10 June 2010 )

As South Africa gears up for the start of the World Cup soccer tournament, so too the new citrus season is about to get underway.

When the opening ceremony takes place in Johannesburg on Friday the 11th of June, the first conventional citrus vessel from Cape Town the M/V Tama Hope will be on its way to Philadelphia. Carrying 1500 pallets of clementines and 600 pallets of navels, she is scheduled to discharge on the East Coast on June the 24th.
 
The second vessel in the conventional shipping program, the M/V River Phoenix is due quickly thereafter on June 29th. This vessel has been planned to arrive on June 29th with 1500 pallets of clementines and 1200 pallets of navels to service July 4th promotions. Fisher Capespan will also receive a small quantity of Orange river Star Ruby grapefruit (organic and regular) on this vessel.
 
According to Marc Solomon, President of Fisher Capespan, South African citrus is sizing up well this season with plentiful supplies of count 64 and 72's available for promotions. Internal quality is excellent and color is good as a result of cool nights in the growing areas. Most of the South African clementines are being shipped in a 15kg bulk carton to allow for re-packing in to 2, 3 or 5lb bags. The grapefruit is in a 17kg carton with sizes in a count 28 - 40 range. Navels will be in the traditional 15kg telescopic carton.
 
Given that the California citrus crop is almost done, the timing of these first two vessels is perfect in terms of keeping the citrus category well supplied. 

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