South Africa’s fruit canning industry under threat as Premier Foods plans closure

About 200 producers of deciduous fruit face possible ruin because of the prospective closure of Premier Foods’ fruit processing plant in Tulbagh. Premier Foods says its Tulbagh fruit processing plant is no longer economically viable. Producers warn its closure would remove half of South Africa’s fruit canning capacity. The prospective closure of Premier Foods’ fruit processing plant in Tulbagh has raised concerns well beyond the loss of factory jobs. Producers face uncertainty“Basically half the capacity for the industry will disappear,” said Jacques Jordaan, chief executive of the Canning Fruit Producers’ Association (CFPA).