South Africa Cultivates Award-Winning Alizza Fruit, As Citrus Exports Face Challenges

News in Brief: - South Africa cultivates the Alizza Fruit, a citrus hybrid lauded for its taste and health benefits. - The fruit's arrival extends the season for consumers but citrus exports face challenges due to stricter EU regulations. South Africa has begun cultivating the Alizza Fruit, a unique citrus variety lauded for its taste and potential health benefits, a news report says. The fruit, a hybrid of mandarin and pomelo, recently received a prestigious Three-Star Superior Taste Award from the International Taste Institute.

Alizza fruit back story

Developed in Israel and named after citrus breeder Aliza Vardi, this Fruit boasts a large size, vibrant colour, easy-to-peel skin, and a unique flavour with exceptional juice content. This review is according to David Alba, director of Genesis Fresh, the company managing the variety. Previously available only in citrus-growing regions during the northern hemisphere winter, the Alizza Fruit's arrival in South Africa extends its season and caters to summer consumers. Business manager at Genesis Fresh South Africa, Andre Russouw, expressed his confidence in the fruit's appeal to South African palates, marking it beginning in the country. Meantime, South Africa's citrus industry faces a potential hurdle in exporting this and other citrus fruits. The European Union (EU) has imposed stricter regulations requiring additional refrigeration for imported South African citrus to combat the fungal disease citrus black spot. However, South Africa, in collaboration with the Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) of Southern Africa, has challenged these regulations by filing a dispute with the World Trade Organisation (WTO).