Fruit South Africa sees the UK as a 'vitally important' market for South African fruit and is committed to ensuring any market issues will be looked at under the FSA umbrella.

Chairman Graham Malcolm told freshinfo: 'There are times when issues affect all fruit industries. In these instances the advantages of all fruit industries speaking with one voice cannot be underestimated.

'The intention of FSA is not to diminish the powers and independence of the different fruit sectors and member organisations, but to harness the opportunities that exist in working together.' The key performance areas of FSA are market access, market development, transformation and skills development, logistics and information. Malcolm added: 'In terms of the UK it is a vitally important market for South African fruit, thus any market access issues and market development initiatives will be taken under the FSA umbrella.' FSA was developed as a result of recognition for a need to re-structure the South African fruit sector. The department for trade and industry (DTI) invited members of the South African economy to form an export advisory council to liase with the DTI on issues to enhance fruit trade.

Malcolm eluded: 'In the case of the fruit industry this opportunity was initially taken up by the Fresh Produce Exporters Forum (FPEF) who formed an export advisory council and named it Fruit South Africa. It became apparent that FPEF was not representative of all sectors of the fruit industry and as a result FSA was reconstituted in its present form.'

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