South African consumers can look forward to a steady supply of avocados throughout the year, provided an agreement pertaining to avoiding produce pests and diseases is reached between Tanzania and South Africa.
The bulk of South Africa’s avocado season occurs between mid-February to late October each year, whereas the avocado off-season falls between November and January, CEO of the South African Avocado Growers’ Association (SAAGA) Derek Donkin told African News Agency (ANA) on Friday. (Tanzania’s avocados) are ready to pick a little bit before ours, so they see it as an opportunity to supply the South African market during that time,” Donkin said.
Donkin said South Africa does import some avocados from countries such as Spain, however the costs involved are much higher as opposed to importing from Tanzania.
Local Kenyan news publication The EastAfrican reported on Tuesday that SAAGA has been pushing to resolve a pest infestation scare relating to Tanzania’s Hass and Fuerte avocados which have subsequently been confiscated at South Africa’s Beitbridge border. They added that Tanzania’s avocados are expected to be available in the South African market by December.
However, Donkin responded, “At the moment they (Tanzania) can’t bring them (avocados) to the country because (of) what they call the phytosanitary agreement – the agreement between the two countries with regards to managing of pests and diseases – that first needs to be signed before they can be brought into the country (South Africa)”. Furthermore, SAAGA cannot drive a government-to-government process, he said.
In other news – Zodwa Wabantu calls Thabo from Black Motion to come back for more – VIDEO
Zodwa Wabantu has zero-chill and that’s one of the many reasons Mzansi loves her. The socialite has just uploaded a video on Instagram telling Thabo that she could be sleeping alone in this cold weather.
Many think this is a subliminal to Thabo Smol from Black Motion, following his video responding to Zodwa telling the whole nation that they shared a bed. Learn more
Source: IOL
