18 July 2013
Importers donate citrus to The Bowery Mission
The growers of South Africa Summer Citrus joined with the United Nations, Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations and the South African Consulate General of New York to celebrate Nelson Mandela International Day, on 18 July 2013, Nelson Mandela’s birthday.
The growers and importers were joined by members of the South Africa Consulate to offload the fruit at the Mission. (Left to Right) Lebogang Mokwena, Consul, Political, Gerard Stone, Director of Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum, George Monyemangene, South African Consulate General, and Piet Smit, Director of Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum.
“As South Africans, we are proud that Mr. Mandela set an example to make the world a better place for everyone,” said Ms. Suhanra Conradie, CEO of the Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum (W.C.C.P.F.). “It is a privilege to export our fine fruit to the U.S. and around the world, and an equal privilege that our fruit can honor Mr. Mandela.”
As part of the week’s Nelson Mandela International Day programs, South African Summer Citrus growers joined the United Nations, the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations and the South African Consulate General of New York personnel to distribute oranges and solicit pledges from people in New York, asking them to commit 67 minutes toward making their world better.
Steve Tursi of Seald Sweet and George Monyemangene, Consulate General of South African Consulate to New York join associates of The Bowery Mission in New York to receive South African Summer Citrus.
The number 67 is the number of years Nelson Mandela is considered to have been in service to his country. The Mandela Day campaign asked that individuals, groups and businesses donate 67 minutes of time on or around July 18th to give back to their community and the world.
On Thursday, July 18th, the Bowery Mission received 67 cartons of South African Summer Citrus donated by the growers and importers AMC, Capespan, DNE World, and Seald Sweet. In presenting the fruit to the Mission, the importers and the growers joined with Mr. George Monyemangene, South African Consul General of New York and Ms. Lebogang Mokwena, Consul, Political to offload the cartons from the delivery truck. In a bucket brigade-like line, the cartons were passed hand to hand in symbolic multi-cultural and multi-national unity toward easing the pain of hunger.
“We are grateful to the four importers who have joined us in this effort,” said Ms. Conradie. “And we are ever appreciative of the support we receive from the South African Consulate General of New York in support of the citrus program to the U.S.”
(Left to Right) Miles Fraser-Jones of AMC, Lebogang Mokwena, Consul, Political, Gerard Stone, Director of Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum, George Monyemangene, South African Consulate General, and Piet Smit, Director of Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum formed a brigade like line to offload fruit for The Bowery Mission in a symbol of multi-national and multi-racial unity against hunger.
The Bowery Mission has served homeless and hungry New Yorkers since 1879 and over the last year has provided more than 376,700 meals, 35,400 bags of groceries, 79,900 nights of shelter and 57,400 articles of clothing to those in need.
South African citrus sold in the United States comes primarily from the region near Citrusdal about two hours Northwest of Cape Town, the Northern Cape near Kimberly, and the Northwest along the Orange River, near Upington.
The W.C.C.P.F. facilitates logistical, marketing and sales support coordination of products for its members. Its mission is to maintain and expand its role as the preferred and reliable supplier of safe Summer citrus for the US.
