SA bags landmark stone-fruit trade deal with China

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen recently announced a major win for South Africa's fruit sector as he signed a one-of-a-kind stone fruit trade protocol with China.

- Liryn de Jager

The agreement, Steenhuisen told Farmer's Weekly, is the first of its kind to grant a single country access to the Chinese market for five different stone fruit varieties, including apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums and prunes.

Minister Steenhuisen was joined by industry representatives from Hortgro, the Fresh Produce Exporters' Forum and Berries ZA to finalise the agreement, signed in Shanghai with Minister Sun Meijun of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Steenhuisen said he is proud to assist South African farmers in promoting their high-quality produce all over the world.

“Our farmers are price takers and not price makers. They produce some of the top produce in the world without being subsidised. Thanks to this new protocol, farmers in the stone fruit industry get the stability and development they are due.”