RE: [CH] Peppers in South Africa
Fanie Jordaan (Jordaan@InformSA.co.za)
Mon, 22 Mar 1999 19:40:02 +0200
Dave Anderson
Tough Love Chile Co.
Thank you for your informative, yet disturbing response to my request.
I would like to comment as follows;
- I have been through this process with our local agricultural authorities
before, and suffice to say, they are extremely bureaucratic. It is however
possible, and this is proven by your one successful attempt, to get seeds
legally into the country.
- Due to the fact that I am employed by one of the five companies that falls
within the protection of the "National Science Council", any incoming
material are automatically considered as "being in good hands".
I now use this avenue to import seeds that might otherwise have to go
through the painful bureaucratic system.
- In the light of the above, the question still remains, will you send
pepper seeds to South Africa.
If that is the case, please provide me with your procedural details.
Fanie Jordaan
PO Box 101573
Moreleta Plaza
0167
SOUTH AFRICA
Jordaan@InformSA.co.za
-----Original Message-----
From: Celeste or Dave Anderson [mailto:Gtoughchile@mail.greatbasin.net]
Sent: 1999-03-22 10:13
To: Jordaan@InformSA.co.za
Cc: Chile-heads@globalgarden.com
Subject: Re: [CH] Peppers in South Africa
Your government does not allow any pepper seeds into the
country without a phytosanitary certificate. I have mailed seeds
twice using the form required by the US government and the seeds got
through once and were rejected once. The customer who had the seeds
rejected asked me to mail them to someone outside South Africa which
I did. The original order arrived here six months after I sent it
with no explanation. I'm assuming it was sent back by sea.
The customer who had the seeds rejected was told by your agriculture
authority that they were specifically concerned about a couple of
virus, but I don't know which ones. This is somewhat strange because
most pepper virus are not seed borne. Many pepper diseases also
affect potatoes, eggplant and tomatoes so they may be trying to
protect another crop.
I now advise potential South African customers that they may have a
problem. The only other country which has rejected seeds from me in
the 4 years which I have been in business is the Philippines. They
rejected Cilantro, but let peppers through.
> Does anyone know of a seed source that will export pepper seeds - small
> quantities - to South Africa?
>
> We have a extraordinary variety of fauna & flora in SA, but alas, people
> around here just don't seem to like things "hot".
>
> Byron suggested Hygrotech seeds (PTY) LTD in SA, but the were unable to
> help!
> I am trying to build up a decent pepper collection but, save for the few
> Chile-Heads who have been willing to send seeds privately, its been an
> uphill race!
>
> The few Habanaro's in SA, I suspect, have been "in-bread" so regularly
that
> most of their potency is lost, is that passable?
> Say a few Habanaro seeds found their way into the country, but no new
stock
> is brought into the pool, will this eventually result in the pepper losing
> it's potency?
> The Habanaro's I grow only start to become potent once it begins to turn
> orange, but once the fruit is fully matured, only the seeds are mildly
hot!
>
> Keep up the good cooking!
>
> Fanie Jordaan
>
> PO Box 101573
> Moreleta Plaza
> 0167
> South Africa
>
> Jordaan@Informsa.co.za
>
>
>
Dave Anderson
Tough Love Chile Co.
http://www.tough-love.com
e-mail Chilehead@tough-love.com