The first Fairtrade citrus and apples from South Africa are set to hit retailers’ shelves.

The fruit is the first to be supplied under the Capespan Foundation’s Thandi Initiative that supports fruit from ‘Empowerment Farms’ and will be available in Tesco and Co-operative Group stores in the coming weeks

Three farms, from South Africa’s Western and Eastern Cape provinces, are producing the fruit, following their recent accreditation by the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation.

Jean Davidson, chairwoman of the Capespan Foundation, said that although only small volumes were currently available, the aim was to expand operations.