WEDNESDAY, 12.30PM:
THE United States department of agriculture may consent to allow South African pineapples — banned from the US since 1986 — back into the country after deeming that no “pest of concern” lurks in the fruit, and that they pose no competition to US producers.
This opens up the market for South Africa to export up to 2000 tons of the fruit to the US market if demand so warrants. This figure, however, represents only 1,5% of the US’s pineapple consumption, and less than 1% of its production which comes predominantly from Hawaii.
It is unclear why, with the lifting of the 1986 Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act — which banned imports of all South African fruit — seven years ago, pineapples were kept off the list of fruit that may be exported to the US.
When sanctions were lifted all South African fruit and vegetables had to be re-certified and deemed pest- and disease-free before being allowed into the US market. Currently SA apples, asparagus, ginger, grapes and plums are deemed export-friendly, while the status of mangos is still under negotiation.
Industry analysts are sceptical as to the demand SA pineapples will generate in the US, pointing out that the US consumer is accustomed to the Cayenne pineapple, while SA products — Queen Victorias, are smaller, sweeter and more yellow than the white Cayennes.