US agri-trade delegation to visit SA

The trade delegation will visit the country under the umbrella of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Advanced agricultural services will be represented, including Case New Holland, which will be showcasing high and low horsepower tractors, rotary and conventional combines, hay tools, implements and self-propelled sprayers, Purina Animal Feeds, and TSGC, Inc., one of the largest suppliers of grain temperature monitoring equipment in the world. FAIM will showcase its virus-free horticultural plant stock, agricultural production such as bananas, pineapples, passion fruit, tamarillo and tissue culture expertise, while GSI Group LLC will highlight its steel farm grain bins, commercial storage grain bins, grain silos, technologically advanced grain dryers and a large selection of material handling systems.

Dairy cattle and beverages

Strickland Ranch & Exports, set to begin shipping dairy cattle to Botswana this year, aims to extend its reach into South Africa, and will showcase its extensive US genetics stock. Food industry representatives taking part include representatives from Cuba Herbal Energy Juice; Zafi, which offers various lines of beverage flavours and manufacturing technologies; American Food Service (AFS) will outline opportunities to import Mercer's Wine Ice Cream; Steaz Organic Energy Drinks; and Steaz Zero Calorie Sparkling Green Teas and Iced Green Teas.

Bell Carter, the largest olive company in the US, will seek distributors for its range, which include black and green olives, pimentos, capers, onions, peppers and fruit snack chips. Suma Trading is seeking to expand its business in the region, with products including Herrs snack and potato chips; Perdue poultry products; Turkey Hill ice cream; SAV-A-LOT private labels; Meats and Eats deli products; Mrs Ressler Deli products; Rastelli beef and poultry products; and Cintron Beverages.

Delegates from some of the US's renowned bulk food sector including peanut, dry pea, lentils and chickpeas, pulses, grains and cranberry production sectors will highlight their opportunities for distributors, processors and food manufacturers. These companies and organisations include the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council, JM grain, PS International and Bridgeforth International Corporation.