In agriculture, relationships are the backbone of business. "For the Summer Citrus group, we've been forced to cancel networking events like our annual BOD meeting and our most important annual US planning session where our importers, retailers, growers and partners come together to collaborate before the upcoming season," said Suhanra Conradie, CEO of Summer Citrus from South Africa. "Despite these unfortunate but necessary cancellations, we are full steam ahead and in production for the summer."

The 2020 crop is looking good, and Summer Citrus from South Africa's first containers of easy peelers will arrive in New York mid-May with more to arrive early to Mid-June. Overall easy peelers will increase in volume with clementine production in full swing with estimated arrival between June and July. Navels will start to arrive mid-June onward and increased volumes are anticipated.

"We are busy packing for our first dedicated conventional vessel to arrive around the third week of June in Philadelphia," said Conradie. "The first containers into Philadelphia will arrive around the same time."

Star Ruby and Cara-Cara oranges have a strong niche market in the U.S. and volumes will be similar to previous years.

Summer Citrus from South Africa's marketing team is planning a consumer promotion that will launch in June as product begins to reach store shelves. The promotion titled, "Here Comes the Sun," is meant to drive demand and purchase of Summer Citrus from South Africa products.