The Egyptian citrus, berry, grape, salads and herb supplier which markets its produce under the Mafa brand, earned EurepGap certification last year and is already geared up for the start of this winter's citrus and strawberry campaigns.

Citrus has just begun picking and has benefited from fine growing conditions. The early easy-peelers are followed in the supply calendar by Fremont later this month before lemons begin in the first week of December and Navel and Minneola usher in the new year.

The company has been working with international breeders on obtaining exclusive licensing arrangements for early and late season varieties of citrus and strawberries suitable specifically for the UK multiple retailer market, thereby extending the Egyptian season.

'The UK market is very important to us,' said managing director Abdel Hamid Demerdash. 'In response to the increasing consumer concerns on food safety, environmental protection and worker welfare, an in order to assure our retail customers of the good practices adopted at our farms and packhouses, we have re-engineered our food safety and quality system and consequently achieved EurepGap and BRC certification.' Meanwhile, production conditions for strawberries have been favourable with the season due to start at the end of the month. Supplies of Sweet Charlie and Tamar kick the season off at the end of the month followed by Yael, Oso Grande, Camarosa, Gaviota and Agromas in December and into January, weather permitting.

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