Shoprite Howd’ya like them apples?
Shoprite are buying some honest to jiminy, American-as-apple-pie, er apples, as it happens. For the first time ever, American apples will grace (if that’s the word) South African shelves, where we will be astounded by their redness, their full, fruity flavour, their heart-shaped perfection, these being the attributes of the Red Delicious, 8 000 cartons of which are winging their way hither as we speak. After two years of schlepping and pleading, Shoprite has wangled a permit from the Department of Agriculture to import the apples from Washington State, where they grow on trees. The apples should be here in time for Christmas, traditionally a lean time for red apples, which are generally harvested from February to April. To put things in perspective, the American apples will have little impact on local producers, from whom Shoprite acquires some 3 million cartons annually.
Comment: The arrival of the apples will be celebrated at Shoprite head office with a “hoedown”, which we understand is some kind of traditional American party.