South African Citrus Overcomes Setbacks for a Triumphant End to the Citrus Season

The 2024 South African citrus season into the U.S. has encountered its share of challenges, but it’s still expected to finish on a high note. Despite some disruptions caused by heavy rainfall, which impacted production and delayed shipments, the season has been marked by resilience and strong market demand.

Suhanra Conradie from Summer Citrus from South Africa said, “Our group of growers, shippers, and importers always puts a lot of effort into planning the season. Normally, our estimated volume grows by 10-15% as the season progresses. However, due to unforeseen weather, we had to adjust our volumes downward by 10%.”

A key factor behind the success of Moroccan citrus is the unique climate. Situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, Morocco benefits from the perfect balance of dry summers and cool, wet winters. This climate, combined with the centuries-old practice of budding trees onto sour orange rootstock, ensures that the fruit thrives across various climatic zones.

As the season comes to an end, we can reflect on what has been a strong year overall for South African citrus in the U.S. market. Even with weather-related challenges, careful planning and commitment from growers helped ensure that consumers received top-quality fruit. ESU is proud to have played a role in making this season a success, and we look forward to finishing on a high note as we wrap up another great year of citrus.

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