Capespan North America, a member of South Africa`s Capespan Group, has signed an exclusive citrus distribution agreement with Californian company S. Surabian & Sons.

The deal appoints Capespan North America as Surabian`s exclusive sales and marketing agent for its extensive line of fresh, California citrus products.

The deal means that Capespan North America`s and Alliance International`s (its Bakersfield-based joint-venture with Anthony Vineyards) customers will have an uninterrupted supply of products under Capespan`s globally recognized Outspan brand for their traditional citrus products like oranges, lemons and grapefruit.

Easy-peeling clementines and mandarins will be marketed under Capespan North America’s Clem Gem brand. Capespan North America will also distribute products under Surabian`s traditional brands Eschol and Buy & Buy.

Capespan North America president and CEO, Mark Greenberg acknowledged that he had been looking for a grower-centric, California partner and he was thrilled to have found Surabian.

'Securing a strong and reliable package of premium California citrus, complemented by our unparalleled import programme, will allow us to serve our retail partners confidently and consistently, 52 weeks of the year, while delivering value to our grower-base in Chile, South Africa, Peru and California, upon whom we depend for our success,' he noted. 'Surabian is the perfect fit for us.”