"Having been in Berlin at Fruit Logistica, it was so lovely to see South African fruit on the shelves during retail visits," says Jane Strijdom, newly appointed IFPA country manger to Southern Africa. "I saw quite a bit of passionfruit, red and green grapes, kumquats, and it always heart-warming to see produce from our members. Our fruit competes internationally with amazing quality from incredible producers."
She remarks that the South African fruit industry punches above its weight, unbeknownst to most in the country.
"When you see, for example, the videos of South African citrus being offloaded in the port of Philadelphia - it's mind-blowing. I don't think South Africans understand what a powerhouse we are. I think we need to tell our story and be proud."
Back in Berlin, Strijdom not only met up with IFPA member companies from South Africa, but she held fruitful talks with growers and exporters further afield in Africa.
"We would like to grow membership into Southern Africa as a whole. At Fruit Logistica there was interest from Kenya, from Zimbabwe, and we're hoping they'll attend our annual congress on 6 August," she says, noting that in particular she met a number of passionfruit producers from Zimbabwe at the trade show.
South Africa's first tariff-free shipment under the new African Continental Free Trade Agreement recently left for Ghana; given the importance of South African apples to the continent despite the hefty tariffs in place, this will be a space to watch. Strijdom, while employed at the RSA market agents before, saw firsthand that buyers from as far as Zambia visit the Johannesburg municipal market several times a week specifically to procure apples.
"That's what we're all about: connections."
The association – the only of its kind to span across narrow interests within the fresh produce and floral industries – has as its primary objective connecting people.
At the 2023 IFPA congress: Jane Strijdom, centre, with Wilene Burger of WBFresh (left) and Marcello Bubalo of RSA market agent
"We have an amazing library of resources which is available to members on our website. It's been instrumental for them to make contact with members in other countries, to get info from elsewhere in the world. It also gives us an idea of trends."
She continues: "It's worth reiterating that although it is a local association, we are able to give access to a global platform where our members have met amazing partners. They've been able to strengthen business ties, or unlock new opportunities. That's what we're all about: connections."
Back home, IFPA lends a hand to market access negotiations where they can. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development is a member of IFPA and a good relationship between the association and government has developed.
She points out that agriculture is the only economic sector in South Africa actively creating new jobs, a fact that ought to be celebrated.
Keeping a watch on packaging changes
In January IFPA announced the establishment of the Alliance for Sustainable Packaging for Foods to ensure that industry is party to the process when far-reaching decisions are made by parties that are not always au fait with the realities of working with perishables. It seeks to harmonise efforts to reduce packaging waste while simultaneously addressing phytosanitary concerns and upholding food safety standards.
From the South African industry's point of view, having a seat at the table is crucial at this period when changes in packaging and carbon emission requirements from certain blocs are imminent.
IFPA's chief science officer who chairs the new alliance, Max Teplitski, has stated: "When discussing the future of packaging, food safety and quality, and reducing food loss and waste are non-negotiable."
An IFPA executive leadership summit at Berlin Fruit Logistica introduced the alliance to the industry where it set out its views including, for example, an exemption of fresh cut and fresh produce categories from plastic packaging bans as well as excluding functional PLU stickers from the definition of packaging.
"We work in the most amazing industry," Strijdom says. "It's dynamic, ever-changing, which means there are always new ideas. I think AI already has really changed the way we look at farming. Look at what it's meant with regards to data and the use of drones. It's already changed the face of agriculture. It's exciting to see what the future holds and how lucky we are to be a part of it!"
For more information:
Jane Strijdom
International Fresh Produce Association
Tel: +27 +27 72 619 6611
Email: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/IFPASouthernAfrica/