While South Africa's drought has been a challenge for the country's fruit growers, the marketer of branded mandarin ClemenGold found the conditions to be beneficial for fruit quality this season.

"The extreme drought and exceptional heat conditions experienced by the citrus growing regions of South Africa leading into the citrus season, had a positive effect on the internal quality of the fruit," ClemenGold CEO Marius du Plessis said in a release. 

"This season’s figures reflect the huge success surrounding the marketing of a premium selection of mandarin.

"The main attributes for inclusion in the easy-peeling ClemenGold brand are virtual seedlessness (a maximum of 5-10 out of a 100 fruit could carry a seed), and superior appearance and flavour, and ClemenGold actually exceeds our clients’ expectations."

The group highlighted that at optimum maturity the fruit adhered to a well-balanced sugar to acid ratio, high sugar levels (11% - 14% TSS) and moderate acid content of 0.8% to 1.4%.

The company said that following extensive promotional programs consumers were increasingly choosing ClemenGold in the soft citrus category because of its easy-peeling and seedless attributes.

Feedback from retailers and consumers confirm that the ClemenGold brand values (excellence, care, innovation, delight and convenience) resonate positively with fruit enthusiasts across the globe, ClemenGold said.

Woolworths, a retailer which exclusively carry the brand in South Africa, recently honoured ClemenGold with The Difference Award for an Elevated Supplier Experience.

“At the moment ClemenGold is the market leader in the easy peel quality fruit category – not just from South Africa, but also from our supply partners from Morocco, Spain, Chile, Australia, Peru and Argentina who realize the potential and value of marketing a premium quality product with guarantees on taste and consumption attributes," Du Plessis said.

“We’re also seeing that, whereas ClemenGold was once categorised as a late mandarin, clients are asking for ClemenGold right through the year. For this reason we’ve been developing new varieties with similar attributes, like the Leanri, to extend the season.”

South Africa will hand the baton to the Northern Hemisphere when ClemenGold fruit produced in Morocco and Spain becomes available on shelves in early 2017, while other growers from Chile, Australia, Peru and Argentina will also enter with their respective seasons.

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