World-Class Table Grapes from South Africa
Capespan is the leading exporter of
fresh fruit from South Africa.
Capespan delivers over 50 million car-­
tons of fresh fruit annually to trading partners in 44 countries on six conti-­
nents. Capespan’s business partners include most of the top global retail-­
ers. Capespan’s grapes are sourced from the company’s own farms and from loyal independent growers who are carefully selected to service the needs of their global partners.
Orange River Vineyards in South Africa
Irradiated Grapes from Capespan
North America.
In order to avoid the use of methyl bromide as a fumigant, Capespan North America is introducing grapes into the US market that are treated with FDA/USDA-­approved irradia-­
tion. Irradiation is used as a safe and effective alternative to methyl bromide fumigation. You can learn more about food irradiation on the reverse side of this fact sheet.
South Africa is a premium producer and exporter of table grapes to leading retailers across the globe. For many years, South African table JUDSHVKDYHEHHQWKH¿UVWFKRLFH
amongst retailers in the United King-­
dom and Europe. South African grapes dominate European and British super-­
market shelves during their season.
South African grape production ex-­
tends from the Orange River area in the Northern Cape which produces the early season varieties into the Western Cape where there are large plant-­
ings of green, red and black grapes. The major grape varieties available from South Africa include Thompson Seedless, Sugarone, Crimson, Sunred Seedless, Red Globe and several black seeded cultivars.
Green seedless grapes will be avail-­
able in February and March. Red Seedless grapes will be available in March and April and Seeded grapes will be available from February until April.
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delphia, Capespan North America services the needs of North American retailers. Capespan North America is a leading importer of grapes, citrus, apples and pears for retailers, whole-­
salers and food service clients.
Red Seedless grapes will be available in March and April.
Seeded grapes will be available from February until April.
Green seedless grapes will be avail-­
able in February and March.
www.Capespan.com -­ Tel 1 800 388 3074 -­ Email info@capespan-­na.com
Capespan’s Commitment to Quality and Environmental Stewardship
Capespan North America is commit-­
ted to producing great-­tasting grapes of optimum quality. In keeping with this tradition, we utilize USDA/FDA-­approved irradiation as a phytosanitary interven-­
tion to protect American agriculture from harmful foreign insect pests while causing no adverse impact on the product.
Irradiation is an environmentally friend-­
ly and very effective post harvest disinfes-­
tation process that is increasingly gaining recognition and world-­wide acceptance as a non-­invasive chemical free treatment to meet stringent quarantine requirements. The most commonly used chemical fumi-­
gant is methyl bromide, a substance which is dangerous to workers and detrimental to the environment. Methyl bromide is gradually being phased out because it is an ozone depleting chemical and a Restricted 8VH3HVWLFLGHGXHWRLWVKLJKDFXWHWR[LFLW\
to applicators. Irradiation is a safe and effective disin-­
festation process that continues our com-­
mitment to superior quality and environ-­
mental stewardship by ensuring that our grapes retain their premium quality with no adverse impact on the environment.
Another advantage of irradiation is that it extends the shelf-­life of food by retard-­
ing maturation in fruits and vegetables and reducing spoilage organisms that can grow even when refrigerated.
What is irradiation? Food irradiation is a process in which approved foods are treated with radiant energy -­ gamma rays, electron beams, or x-­rays. Irradiation SURGXFHVPDQ\EHQH¿FLDOHIIHFWVRQIRRGV
including disinfestation of insects, bacte-­
rial reduction, growth inhibition, control of parasites and shelf-­ life extension. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved irradiation for use on fruits, vegetables, spices, raw poultry, red meats, DQGZKHDWÀRXU
How is food irradiated? Food is irradiat-­
ed by placing it in, or moving it on, a con-­
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consisting of electron beams or gamma rays or x-­rays. As a quarantine treatment, the goal is to provide protection from harmful pests residing on the grapes and to prevent insect reproduction while not affecting nutrition, taste or visual qualities of the product. In many ways, irradiation is similar to the scanning process used to screen luggage at airports.
Irradiated food products on the US market:
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(Marshall, MN), Omaha Steaks (Omaha, NE), and Wegmans Supermarkets (NY, 1-3$9$0'0$$QQXDOVDOHVRI
irradiated burgers are approximately 18 million pounds.
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(from Mexico), and other tropical fruits -­ mangosteen, papaya, lychee, rambutan, VWDUIUXLWIURP7KDLODQG9LHWQDPDQG
elsewhere-­ are sold primarily in Asian specialty markets. Annual sales of irradi-­
ated produce are approximately 35 million pounds and steadily growing. ‡)RUPRUHWKDQDGHFDGHIUXLWVXFKDV
papaya, lychees, and purple sweet potatoes from Hawaii have been irradiated prior to shipment to the US mainland. Currently approximately 10 million pounds of irradi-­
ated Hawaiian produce are sold at retail in the US mainland.
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spices and seasonings. Estimates suggest that about one-­third of the total volume (175 million pounds) of spices used in the U.S. food industry is irradiated.
Irradiated food products in other markets: Each year about a billion pounds of food products and ingredients are irradiated worldwide. One of the most success-­
ful marketing efforts has been in New Zealand where irradiation of Australian mangoes has been promoted as an envi-­
ronmentally friendly alternative to chemi-­
cal fumigation. Retail sales have nearly GRXEOHGHYHU\\HDUVLQFH¿UVWLQWURGXFHG
in 2004/05. In 2011, over 1300 tons of irradiated Australian mangoes and lychees were sold through the two largest New Zealand retail chains.
Radura Symbol
‡ Labeling requirement: For regulatory
purposes, irradiation is subject to labeling
requirements. All irradiated foods must
bear the radura – the international symbol
for irradiation (shown above) - and the
words “Treated by irradiation” or “Treated
with radiation.” This terminology and the
Radura symbol must appear on the shipping carton and be displayed on a card
at the point of sale. Additional wording
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be included on the carton or card as long
as the information is accurate.
Nutrition, quality & taste of irradiated
foods: Foods treated by irradiation are
generally as nutritious as, or more nutritious than, the same food treated by other
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effect on the quality, taste or nutritional
value of the macronutrients within foods
(proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and vitamins).
For more information:
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‡
Who Endorses irradiation? 6FLHQWL¿F
organizations worldwide support food irra-­
diation. Some of many groups that endorse ‡
food irradiation include: Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
U.S. Dept of Agriculture (USDA)
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United Nations Food and Agriculture World Health Organization (WHO)
American Medical Association (AMA
The Mayo Clinic American Dietetic Association (ADA)
Grocery Manufacturers Association
8QLWHG)UHVK)UXLW9HJHWDEOH$VVRFLDWLRQ Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) American Farm Bureau Federation
‡
‡
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
“Food Irradiation: What You Need to
Know” http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm261680.
htm
Eustice, R. and C. Bruhn (2012).
“Consumer Acceptance and Marketing
of Irradiated Foods.” Chap. 10 in Food
Irradiation Research and Technology,
eds C.H. Sommers and X. Fan www.
books.google.com
U.S.D.A. “Irradiation and Food Safety”
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/
Irradiation_and_Food_Safety/index.asp
Grocery Manufacturers Association
(2009). Food Irradiation: A Guide for
Consumers, Policymakers, and the Media. http://www.gmaonline.org/downloads/research-and-reports/SPP_Irradiation5.pdf
Food Irradiation Processing Alliance
(FIPA). Food Irradiation Questions and
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