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IOL News
7 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Trump tariffs sour fortunes of SA's citrus farmers
Citrus farmers are in a rush to get their produce to the US ahead of Trump's tariff deadline. Image: Dwayne Senior / Bloomberg Ntando Thukwana Walk down the aisles of a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods Market in the US, and chances are many of the piles of oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit will be labeled 'Produce of South Africa.' They have become a staple in the US - the world's largest citrus importer - especially during the off-season summer months when in the southern hemisphere the South African winter harvest is at its peak. But now, those supplies are threatened by a potential 31% tariff President Donald Trump has slapped on the country. After earlier saying the levies would be imposed on July 9, US officials on Monday signaled that trading partners have until Aug. 1 before the tariffs kick in. The looming levy has cast a cloud over the sunny valleys of Citrusdal, a tiny, serene farming town nestled amid rolling green hillocks in the Western Cape area of South Africa. Tucked into the base of the Cederberg mountains about 100 miles north of Cape Town, the area is dominated by citrus farms, giving the town its name. For a quarter century, the juicy produce of the area's orchards - owned over generations by people mostly of Afrikaner heritage - has journeyed thousands of miles to make it to the fruit bowls of American homes. Citrus farmer Gerrt van der Merwe. Image: Dwayne Senior/Bloomberg But this season is different. Now, Trump's tariff policies are threatening the very same White farmers to whom he offered asylum, falsely claiming that they are targets of a genocide and that their land is being seized by the state. The levies are likely to have a debilitating impact on their operations, the livelihoods of the thousands of people they employ and the country's 35 billion-rand ($2 billion) citrus industry - one of the rare bright spots in South Africa's stagnant economy. 'Our business is built for the US market, and for about 25 years we've planted, we've picked, we've planned accordingly,' said Gerrit van der Merwe, the chief executive officer of family owned ALG Estates, as he stood in his 2,500-acre farm donning a gray puffer jacket, jeans and a pair of Veldskoen - leather footwear made famous by Afrikaner farmers. South Africa is the world's second-largest exporter of citrus fruits, behind Spain. Trump's tariffs are now threatening to price farmers in the Western Cape - the country's prime area for the produce - out of a key market, leaving them to navigate an uncertain future. Citrus growers have been preparing for a new reality. Over recent weeks, some orchards have been in a panicked rush to get their produce to the US market ahead of the looming deadline. Van der Merwe's farm, whose packing season began May 1, has been working on getting as much fruit as possible on vessels and shipped, he said. Local citrus farmers are dependent on the US market. Image: Dwayne Senior/Bloomberg But longer term, the damages could be more devastating and may push farmers to shrink orchards that are specifically developed to meet demand in the US, said Van der Merwe, whose farms employ 2,000 people and have been managed by his family for eight generations. 'We've built our supply chains, we've built our supermarkets, we've built our importing companies on that side, so we've been trying to own that market to make sure that we are very, very efficient, and that we can send the maximum fruit into that market,' he said. 'For us, we've become dependent on the US market, but also the US consumers have also become dependent on our fruit.' The US is the second-largest destination for South African exports after China, accounting for more than $20 billion last year. Major exports include precious stones and metals, organic chemicals and edible fruit. Although the nation sends just 5% to 6% of its citrus produce to the US, the exports had been expected to rise about 7.7% to 7 million cartons this season, and the industry had ambitious plans to grow that share. Trump's tariffs will hit hard and industry that has been one of South Africa's real success stories. Image: Supplied The US duties will be the latest blow to the industry that employs about 140,000 people at the farm level. A rare South African export success, it has been threatened by the crumbling domestic infrastructure at state-owned rail and ports operator Transnet SOC Ltd., that has been blamed for delays and dwindling shipments of key commodities. Should the higher tariff 'take effect, it would make our citrus completely uncompetitive in the US market,' said Boitshoko Ntshabele, CEO of the Citrus Growers' Association. The CGA estimates that logistical inefficiencies already cost the sector 5.3 billion rand a year. South Africa is among countries slapped with the steepest tariffs, placing it at an immediate disadvantage while competing with its citrus producing South American rivals, like Peru and Chile. To mitigate the impacts of the tariffs, growers may opt to reroute their fruit to other markets, including Europe, but that could undermine the stability in those markets and have 'a knock-on effect on the entire Southern African citrus industry,' Ntshabele warned. The sector is 'looking to add about 100 million export cartons by 2032, and therefore continuously working on diversifying exports markets,' he said. 'This will remain our focus in the near term.' Europe is already among the biggest citrus export markets for South Africa. The industry is also locked in a long-running dispute over the European Union's regulations, which mandated stringent cold-treatment measures and additional inspections of South African citrus following cases of fruits affected by the false codling moth. The moth lays eggs on the surface of the fruit, and the larvae that emerge from the eggs burrow into the rind, develop brown discoloration and render the fruit moldy and unmarketable. The CGA says EU regulations cost the industry about 3.7 billion rand each season. As farmers look to widen their export markets, they could turn to China and other Asian countries, said Paul Makube, a senior agricultural economist at First National Bank. China's recent announcement of a plan to grant 53 African nations tariff-free access presents an opportunity for citrus farmers to expand there. 'It has become increasingly important to start diversifying, and with the Asian markets with their big populations and income growth in China, India, they need to start opening up those Asian markets,' Makube said. That said, growing the industry's presence in the world's top market for the fruits remains critical. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sought to reset strained relations with the US during an Oval Office meeting with Trump in Washington in May. South Africa is asking the US to drop its reciprocal tariff to the 10% baseline. 'We believe that if we have a live conversation going, we will be excluded from the 30%, maybe sitting with the 10%,' said Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen. 'That still allows us to compete against some of our competitors, particularly in the South American market.' On Monday, Trump said he's planning to announce trade deals and deliver tariff warnings. Meanwhile, gathered in Brazil, BRICS nations - which includes South Africa - expressed 'serious concerns' over the unilateral levies. With no indications the tariff situation will improve, Van der Merwe is worried. 'I think 10% is manageable; it's not ideal,' said the ALG Estates chief. 'For now, we're asking to be handled the same as Peru and Chile - our competition. Otherwise, we can't compete.' - With assistance from Jennifer Zabasajja, Andre-Pierre Du Plessis and Naomi Kresge. | Washington Post
Business Journals
15-07-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Whole Foods to open first McKinney store this fall
Whole Foods Market is set to open its first location in McKinney this fall. The Austin-based grocer, which Amazon acquired for $13.7 billion in 2017, currently operates more than 10 stores in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Globe and Mail
12-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Amazon Prime Day 2025 Delivers Record Sales and Savings in Expanded Four-Day Shopping Event
Amazon announced today that Prime Day 2025 was its biggest Prime Day event ever and that customers saved billions on deals across more than 35 product categories, more savings than any previous Prime Day event. This year's Prime Day event was bigger than any previous four-day period that included a Prime Day event, with record sales and more items sold during the four days. Members saved big on best-selling brands like Dyson, medicube, and Philips Sonicare. Amazon Prime brings members fantastic savings, convenience, and world-class entertainment—and this year's four-day Prime Day event gave them more time than ever to shop and save. Prime members scored deals across categories including electronics, beauty, and household essentials on best-selling products like Apple AirPods Pro 2, BIODANCE Bio Collagen Real Deep Mask, and Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray. Prime members purchased millions of Alexa-enabled devices, and the Ring Battery Doorbell and Fire TV Stick HD were two of the event's best-selling items. The savings didn't stop there—Prime members stocked up on grocery deals like 50% off all ice cream and frozen desserts at Whole Foods Market and $30 off purchases of $150 or more across all Amazon Fresh selection, including fresh produce and other perishable items. This year's Prime Day experience was enhanced by Alexa+—Amazon's next-generation personal assistant now available in Early Access to millions of customers—along with the AI-powered shopping assistant, Rufus, and AI Shopping Guides. These features helped customers easily discover deals and get product information, complementing the fast, free delivery that Prime members enjoy year-round. "This year's extended Prime Day event delivered incredible savings to our members across millions of deals," said Doug Herrington, CEO of Amazon Worldwide Stores. "We're thrilled to see record savings for our customers, who found great prices on the everyday essentials and products they love. This event wouldn't be possible without the dedication of our employees, delivery partners, vendors, and sellers who worked tirelessly to serve our customers. Their efforts made this our biggest Prime Day yet, and I'm grateful for their contributions." Independent sellers—most of which are small and medium-sized businesses—also achieved record sales and a record number of items sold. 'Prime Day 2025 was our most successful Amazon shopping event since launching our store in 2019,' said Anne Maza, co-owner of the small business Olivia Garden. 'We saw impressive sales not just on our Prime exclusive deals but across our entire catalog. Beyond the immediate revenue boost, we're especially thrilled about the increased brand awareness and the acquisition of new customers through the event.' Prime Day is one of the many benefits available to Prime members who enjoy a wide range of shopping, savings, and entertainment benefits all in one membership. In the U.S., members have access to: More than 300 million items available with free Prime shipping and tens of millions of the most popular products available with free Same-Day or One-Day Delivery. Same-Day Delivery is currently available on millions of items for customers across more than 140 U.S. metro areas. Exclusive deals and shopping events like Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days. Access to Prime Video, a first-stop entertainment destination offering customers a vast collection of premium programming in one app available across thousands of devices. The viewing experience can be customized to watch movies, series, documentaries, and live sports, including Amazon MGM Studios-produced series and movies Red One, Road House, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Fallout, Reacher, The Boys, Cross, and The Idea of You; licensed fan favorites; Prime member exclusive access to coverage of live sports including Thursday Night Football, WNBA, and NWSL, and acclaimed sports documentaries including Bye Bye Barry and Kelce. The option to use the convenient shopping benefits of Prime—like fast, free delivery, a trusted checkout experience, and easy returns—on participating brands' websites with Buy with Prime. Alexa+, the next-generation of Alexa, powered by generative AI. Early Access to Alexa+ is available to millions of customers in the U.S. Ad-free listening of 100 million songs and millions of podcast episodes with Amazon Music. Prescription medications as low as $1 per month and fast, free shipping from Amazon Pharmacy. Access to unlimited eligible generic prescription medications for only $5 per month (including free shipping) with RxPass from Amazon Pharmacy. High-quality health care from One Medical for a discounted membership fee of only $9 per month (or $99 annually vs. $199 annually for non-Prime members), with the option to add up to five additional memberships for the family for only $6 per month (or $66 annually) each. Shop from our wide selection of high-quality and low-priced grocery products through Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market, with exclusive in-store and online savings and other benefits like access to grocery subscription. Unlimited photo storage with Amazon Photos. Access to free games and a monthly Twitch channel subscription with Prime Gaming. Read from a selection of eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, comics, and manga. A free Grubhub+ membership valued at $120 per year, offering unlimited $0 delivery fees on eligible orders. Savings of $0.10 per gallon at more than 7,500 bp, Amoco, and participating ampm locations across the U.S., potentially saving Prime members on average nearly $70 per year on gas if purchasing at qualifying locations. About Amazon Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth's Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth's Best Employer, and Earth's Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit and follow @AmazonNews. About Amazon Prime Prime is savings, convenience, and entertainment all in one membership. More than 200 million paid Prime members around the world enjoy access to Amazon's enormous selection, exceptional value, and fast delivery. In the U.S., we offer more than 300 million items with free Prime shipping, including tens of millions of the most popular products available with Same-Day or One-Day Delivery. Anyone can join Prime for $14.99 per month or $139 per year, or start a free 30-day trial if eligible at Additionally, young adults can try Prime Young Adult with a six-month $0 trial at then pay a discounted rate of $7.49 per month or $69 per year for a membership. Qualifying government assistance recipients and income-verified customers can get Prime Access for $6.99 per month at For more information about Prime, including discounted memberships, visit
Business Wire
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Row 7 Seed Company Brings Revolutionary Sweet Garleek to Whole Foods Market Nationwide
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After captivating home cooks and chefs during its limited regional availability, Sweet Garleek —Row 7 Seed Company's revolutionary new vegetable—is making its national debut at every Whole Foods Market across the country. After captivating home cooks and chefs during its limited regional availability, Sweet Garleek—Row 7 Seed Company's revolutionary new vegetable—is making its national debut at every Whole Foods Market across the country. Share This groundbreaking allium joins Row 7's full portfolio of flavor-forward vegetables in a nationwide expansion that represents the culmination of the company's unique model that brings together public plant breeders, regional organic farmers, and chefs to reimagine vegetables from the seed up. "Sweet Garleek is more than just a new vegetable—it's proof that when chefs, farmers, and plant breeders work together, we can create ingredients that inspire entirely new ways of cooking and eating," said Row 7 founder Chef Dan Barber. "We're thrilled to bring this innovation to Whole Foods Markets nationwide, making it accessible to home cooks everywhere." THE SWEET GARLEEK STORY: FROM SEED TO YOUR KITCHEN Sweet Garleek's journey began 10 years ago when allium breeder Hans Bongers identified a unique leek with uniformly straight shafts and a distinct garlicky flavor. Through Row 7's collaborative approach, this discovery was tested by chefs and farmers around the country who provided feedback from both field and kitchen. The result? A vegetable that marries the sweetness of leeks with the mellow, savory notes of garlic. Unlike traditional leeks, you can use the whole thing, tops and all, whether sautéed, grilled, or even raw. This zero-waste approach exemplifies Row 7's philosophy: vegetables bred not just for yield or shelf life, but for the way people actually cook and eat. Row 7 has partnered with regional organic partners like Norwich Meadows Farm and Lakeside Organic Gardens to scale Sweet Garleek. The successful growing season that enabled this national expansion proves that farming for flavor is also good business. "The national availability of Sweet Garleek represents a milestone not just for Row 7, but for the entire movement to put flavor first in plant breeding," said Charlotte Douglas, President of Row 7 Seed Company. "When vegetables taste this good, people naturally want to cook and eat more of them—and that's a delicious way to impact both human and planetary health." YOUR NEW VEGETABLE COLLECTION Sweet Garleek joins a delicious and distinctive roster of organic vegetables that Row 7 is scaling this year. Each variety represents years of collaborative breeding, farmer dedication, and a shared belief that vegetables can and should be delicious enough to inspire a new generation of home cooking. In addition to Sweet Garleek, find these Row 7 varieties throughout the growing season at Whole Foods Market locations nationwide: Upstate Abundance Potatoes: Creamy, nutty and buttery (even without the butter), this little creamer potato is abundantly delicious Badger Flame Beets: A sweet, mild golden beet ready to convert even the skeptics Koginut Squash: Selected for its rich, nutty flavor and velvety texture, this prized pumpkin is perfect for roasting or purées. Honeypatch Squash: A single-serving butternut packed with concentrated sweetness and beta-carotene Sweet Prince Tomatoes: This versatile little tomato is bursting with flavor and ideal for roasting, sautéing and dehydrating — if you can resist eating it raw About Row 7 Seed Company Row 7 Seed Company, founded by world-renowned chef Dan Barber, mobilizes chefs, farmers, plant breeders, and plant eaters to develop exceptional new vegetables selected for our palates and the planet. Row 7's line of branded organic vegetables was created to complement its seed offerings and advance its mission to reimagine food from seed to table. The collaboration between Row 7 and Whole Foods Market gives consumers greater access to the seed company than ever before.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nightingale Ice Cream Expands Presence in Whole Foods Market with Addition of Four New U.S. Regions
RICHMOND, Va., July 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nightingale Ice Cream, the woman-owned, chef-founded brand known for its handcrafted ice cream sandwiches, is proud to announce its continued growth in select Whole Foods Market locations nationwide. Beginning this July, Nightingale will expand its presence into four additional Whole Foods Market regions: Midwest, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, and Florida. This milestone positions Nightingale's premium ice cream sandwiches in over 400 Whole Foods Market stores across the U.S. by the end of summer 2025, significantly increasing the brand's national footprint and bringing its nostalgic-meets-culinary treats to new audiences. "We're thrilled to expand our collaboration with Nightingale Ice Cream across four new regions, bringing their exceptional handcrafted ice cream sandwiches to even more of our customers," said Daniella Cady, Senior Bakery Category Merchant at Whole Foods Market. "Their commitment to innovative flavors perfectly aligns with what our shoppers are looking for in premium frozen treats. The brand's impressive growth and customer feedback in existing markets made this expansion a natural next step in our relationship" "We love working with Whole Foods Market because they truly care about the things that matter to us— quality ingredients and a commitment to premium, innovative offerings," said Hannah Pollack, founder of Nightingale Ice Cream. "It's incredibly rewarding to partner with a retailer that shares our values and to see our sandwiches reach even more communities across the country." Founded in Richmond, Virginia, Nightingale Ice Cream has gained a loyal following for its bold flavors, distinctive textures, and commitment to quality ingredients. Popular flavors like Banana Pudding, Cookie Monster, and Strawberry Shortcake will be available in these new regions, offering consumers a fresh take on the classic ice cream sandwich. This expansion marks a natural alignment between Nightingale Ice Cream and Whole Foods Market—two brands united by a deep commitment to quality, transparency, and real ingredients. As Nightingale continues to experience strong performance and growing consumer demand, the addition of these new regions underscores a shared dedication to offering thoughtfully crafted, premium products that delight. To locate Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches at a Whole Foods Market near you, please visit: About Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches Founded in 2016 from the humble beginnings of a now-closed restaurant pool hall, Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches quickly became a Richmond, Virginia staple. Today, this burgeoning ice cream empire, led by culinary duo Hannah Pollack and Xavier Meers, is expanding into major retailers, restaurants, and event venues across the United States. Handcrafted in small batches, Nightingale ice cream sandwiches include 14% butterfat ice cream, freshly baked cookies & homemade inclusions. Joyful & indulgent, Nightingale is incomparable to any other ice cream novelty, evoking tastes of childhood with elevated flavors & sophistication. Nightingale is now found at over 5,200 chain and independent grocers nationwide, including Whole Foods Market, Costco, Kroger, Ralph's, The Fresh Market, and Harris Teeter. Learn more at PR CONTACT: Molly Szkotak, Director of Brand Marketing 718.501.4015 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
