“The rise of global interest in South African fruit is remarkable. There are amazing opportunities for this industry going forward. [However,] it is no longer an option to be ethically and environmentally compliant; producers must be compliance fit,” Calla du Toit, Hortgro Pome chairperson and Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing procurement director, told delegates.
Du Toit cited China as a potential growth market for South African fruit, with representatives from Hortgro, the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum, the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa, Berries ZA, and Fruit South Africa due to accompany Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp on an official visit to that country in early September.
He explained that this was part of ongoing bilateral engagements with China to strengthen trade relations and broaden market access for South African agricultural products. The protocol for exporting South African cherries to China would form part of these discussions.
Du Toit said compliance would increasingly be driven not only by customers but by international competitors, who could undermine South Africa’s reputation by pointing to any shortcomings in ethical and environmental practices.
“The question we must ask ourselves is whether we can be trusted as a world-class supplier, and the answer must be yes,” he added.
Francois Brink, founder of specialist consultancy Skyvines, said compliance was often viewed primarily in terms of its visible costs, including audits, consultants, training, personal protective equipment, record-keeping, equipment, infrastructure, and housing.
The hidden costs, however, such as the consequences of product recalls, loss of reputation, and closed markets, were harder to measure.
“Compliance is a price we simply cannot afford not to pay. The reward of compliance is trust, market access, and more opportunities,” Brink explained.
Dr Mogale Sebopetsa, head of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, said agriculture needed to remain competitive to take advantage of new opportunities and support the province’s export expansion strategy.
This strategy aimed to increase goods exports from R136 billion in 2020 to R408 billion by 2035, while targeting 1 000 additional active exporters and 10 new export product opportunities.
“We must have compliance as a strategy. Compliance must be more than simply passing audits. It is about protecting our workers, our farms and food chain, the environment, [our] reputation, and access to markets,” he said.
The Sustainability Initiative of South Africa (SIZA) celebrated its 10th anniversary at the conference, bringing together nearly 300 attendees from across the fruit industry and agricultural value chain, including suppliers, consultants, representatives from local and international retailers, and auditing firms.
Sebopetsa said SIZA’s milestone reinforced the role of compliance in supporting the sector’s future.
“As we celebrate 10 years, let us remember that compliance is not a destination; it is a foundation for trust, market access, growth, jobs, and opportunities,” he concluded.
