The Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum (FPEF) is a voluntary, non-profit organisation with more than 140 members, accounting for about 90% of fresh produce exported from South Africa. The FPEF is also a member of Fruit South Africa (FSA), together with the country’s five growers’ associations. This position strengthens the FPEF’s role of providing leadership and services to its members, the international buying community and the fresh produce export industry as a whole.

FPEF members consist of fresh produce exporters, producer-exporters, export and marketing agents, pack-houses, logistics and other service providers. Whilst membership is voluntary and open to all South African fresh produce exporting companies and industry service providers, strict accreditation criteria and a Code of Conduct apply to ensure that only competent and reliable marketing agents and grower-exporters are admitted to the Forum.

The neutral and representative status of the FPEF enables it to raise funds for the export industry to ensure attendance of major international trade fairs like Fruit Logistica Berlin and Asia Fruit Logistica, during which an Export Directory is distributed. Essentially a service organisation, some of the FPEF’s services include generic promotions for new and existing markets, the distribution of information to members, and the publication of a series of trade chain manuals.

The FPEF also manages a number of projects for the benefit of the industry, such as training, mentorship and transformation initiatives; the Top of the Class (TOC) programme, and the Post-Harvest Innovation (PHI) Programme.

As the official Fresh Produce Export Council in South Africa, the FPEF provides a pivotal link between Government and the industry regarding market access and related matters. More than anything, the FPEF intends to create value for its members to help ensure a profitable, sustainable and globally competitive fresh produce export industry.