Overland Park, KS, July 20, 2010 – Oranges from South Africa will be the fruit of choice at the 2010 US Youth Soccer National Championships tournament at the Overland Park Soccer Complex in Kansas from July 20-25. This is the second year summer citrus is being made available by the Western Cape Citrus Producers’ Forum (WCCPF), the organization of more than 350 South African producers of citrus approved to export to the U.S.
“We are delighted to again be the fruit sponsor of the 2010 US Youth Soccer National Championships,” says Ms. Joretha Geldenhuys, CEO of the WCCPF. “Soccer Moms throughout the U.S. know that summer citrus is the perfect thirst quenching and energizing snack for soccer players.” The WCCPF will distribute thousands of oranges to players and spectators during the tournament.
“These players comprise the best youth teams in the nation. It is only fitting they have access to the best citrus in the world. In providing a continuous supply of oranges, we hope to give that extra kick the players need to score their game-winning goals,” says Geldenhuys. “Seedless South African summer citrus is known for its great flavor, nutrition and ease of peeling. The fruit is enormously popular among U.S. retailers, who rely on the increasing availability of our products.”
The journey to the 2010 US Youth Soccer National Championships began with more than 10,000 teams competing at the state level with 928 teams qualifying for the regional level. The 60 national qualifiers will compete for the 12, Under-14 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups, who will be crowned national champions. Fox Soccer Channel will air the Under-19 Boys US Youth Soccer National Championship final on the 75th anniversary of the McGuire Cup, the oldest trophy in youth sport. Follow the tournament at http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org.
The WCCPF maintains preferred supplier status by meeting and exceeding USDA and FDA protocols. It guarantees only the best fruit to the U.S. market. South Africa is the second largest exporter of citrus in the world and producer of 60 percent of all citrus grown in the Southern Hemisphere. Other than the U.S., their primary export markets include the European Union, Far East, Middle East, Russia, and the rest of Africa.
The South African fruit bound for the U.S. consumer comes from the Cederberg Valley near Citrusdal, about two hours northwest of Cape Town; a region near Kimberley in the Northern Cape; and along the Orange River, the country’s largest, near the town of Upington in the northwest of the country.
Caption: Two players peeling South African navels after their first round match at the 2010 U.S. Youth National Soccer Championships being played at Overland Park, near Kansas City this week.
Source: WCCPF