Development of a year-round fruit offer from South African Capespan this week sees it begin Turkish satsumas, that it says will account for 30-40 per cent of all product on the UK market.

The company says it expects to ship between 250,000 tonnes and 300,000t to the UK market during the 2001/02 season.

The business has arisen from an alliance with Ersat, a family run co-operative of around 15 growers in Turkey. According to Capespan's Martin Dunnet, this gives the company access to quality late citrus from the country's mountainous eastern production areas – and an advantage come January.

'In the new year we expect to be the only supplier with Turkish satsumas on the market,' he said.

Capespan's global procurement drive, set up in the wake of deregulation in the South African market and its appointment as category manager for one multiple retailer, has seen the company develop several new sources of fruit. Agreements with suppliers in Spain have enabled it to continue supplies until this week's handover to Turkey; next year will see it start of Peruvian citrus.

Dunnett continued that this had also been a good season for its core source. 'It has been a successful South African season and in many ways a reestablishment of confidence in South Africa, with a lot of growers making good money this year. The US market has been reasonable, the Middle Eastern market has been good, and Europe has been ok despite the problems later on.' The continuing decline of the rand, which stood at around 15 rand to the pound as the Journal went to press, was also bolstering opportunities for South Africa, added Dunnett.

For more information on this story, see the feature on Turkish citrus in the Fresh Produce Journal, December 7.

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