Industry leaders say South African growers and exporters are positioning themselves to serve the Chinese market after ministers from both countries signed a stonefruit trade protocol in Shanghai, marking the first time China has negotiated access to multiple fruit types from a single country under one agreement.
Stonefruit orchards in South Africa have been provisionally registered with the country’s Department of Agriculture (DoA) in anticipation of gaining market access to China.
The move shows South African growers and exporters are ready to serve the Chinese market.
This is the view of industry leaders on the recent signing of a protocol between the nations, which will allow South Africa to enter China’s large consumer market.
All this is happening in the opening weeks of the new season, and still a month away from the G-20 Summit in South Africa, where trade issues will be high on the agenda.
Observers speculate that some other major deals could be discussed at the Summit, which marks the end of South Africa’s year-long presidency.
“We look forward to establishing much closer, mutually beneficial working relationships with the Chinese authorities to expedite market access between the two countries in shorter timeframes in future,” said Jacques du Preez, Hortgro general manager trade and markets.
“We can’t wait to ship our first container of delicious, ethically produced stone fruit that complies with the strictest food safety standards to China.
”We see the Chinese market as vital to the sustainability and further growth of our deciduous fruit industry,” he noted.
“We have experienced tremendous growth in exports to other eastern nations, and now we are eager to supply Chinese consumers with our delicious stonefruit as well.”
Over the past few years, the South African apple and pear industry has launched several successful consumer education and awareness campaigns in China.
The stonefruit industry will build on these campaigns and hopefully increase exports, looking to establish South Africa as the preferred supplier of fruit in the market.
Hortgro’s executive director Anton Rabe stated that gaining new markets while maintaining existing market access is a top priority for Hortgro.
“We have a multi-disciplinary team of experts addressing the growing demands and compliance issues,” he explained.
”Most of this work remains unseen and occurs behind the scenes. When we achieve tangible results, such as signing a new protocol for a product – in this case, stone fruit – with China, we have grounds for celebration.
“Building a market of this kind is not a silver bullet that guarantees large volumes will be exported overnight, nor is it the conclusion of the journey,” he said.
”Now, the real challenge begins: developing this market in partnership with commercial stakeholders by maximising its potential for meaningful volumes to China.”
Minister of agriculture John Steenhuisen and his counterpart Sun Meijun of China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC), signed the historic stonefruit trade protocol in Shanghai on 15 October.
It is also the first occasion on which China has negotiated access to multiple fruit types from a single country under a single agreement.
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