SA’s citrus growers voluntarily halt lemon exports to EU
CITRUS growers in SA face losses of about R50m after voluntarily suspending all exports of organic lemons to the European Union (EU) due the risk of citrus black spot (CBS).However, despite being highly priced, organic lemons make up a small portion of citrus production. While acknowledging the losses, farmers said they were choosing to view the suspension of exports to EU as a way to help safeguard a key market.Growers said on Thursday that they would withdraw all their organic lemon exports to the EU in 2016.Citrus growers have had a difficult two years after the EU imposed a ban on South African imports in November 2013 because of citrus black spot. The ban was lifted in January 2014.Citrus black spot, which affects some South African produce, causes blemishes on the fruit’s peel.The citrus industry generates R9bn from global exports, R4bn of which comes from the EU. This represents 40% of SA’s citrus exports.Citrus growers felt that while the latest decision to suspend exports o...
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