Executives representing the top Hass avocado companies in the United States and South Africa announced during Fruit Logistica in Berlin the establishment of the U.S.-South Africa Avocado Committee.
The committee’s primary purpose is to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to obtain the necessary approvals to allow for the exportation of Hass avocados from South Africa into the United States.
This landmark committee is comprised of the top U.S. and South Africa avocado grower, packer, exporter and importer companies. The binational co-chairs of the committee are Zac Bard of Westfalia in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Jim Donovan of Mission Produce in Oxnard, CA.
The USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Services and its South African counterpart, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, are in the process of developing a pest risk assessment. The committee’s first order of business will be to support the development of such pest risk assessment for the U.S. importation of South Africa Hass avocados.
“The USSAAC binational committee is a first for the agricultural industry, and signals an exciting new era of innovation and partnership in bringing high quality South African avocados to the U.S.,” Bard said in a Feb. 4 statement.
“The global demand for Hass avocados is increasing every year, especially in the U.S., which this year is expected to reach 2 billion pounds,” Donovan added in the statement. “Once all approvals are secured, the U.S. could see the first shipment of avocados from South Africa in the near future.”
The USSAAC will hold its next 2015 meetings in September during the VIII World Avocado Congress in Lima, Peru, and in October during the Produce Marketing Association’s annual Fresh Summit in Atlanta, GA.
In addition to Bard, South African members of the committee include Mark Baker of H.L. Halls & Sons, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa; Trevor Dukes of Univeg in Tzaneen, Limpopo, South Africa; Clive Garrett of ZZ2 in Mooketsi, Limpopo, South Africa; and Wiedse Kruger of Afrupro in Tzaneen, Limpopo, South Africa.
In addition to Donovan, U.S. members of the committee include Matthew Clark of Eco Farms Avocados in Temecula, CA; Bruce Dowhan of Giumarra in Escondido, CA; Reuben Hofshi of Del Rey Avocados in Fallbrook, CA; Rankin McDaniel of McDaniel Fruit Co. in Fallbrook, CA; Kellen Newhouse of WestPak Avocado in Murrieta, CA; and Dana Thomas of Index Fresh, Riverside, CA.
Source: Produce News