Mecia Petersen appointed as new SATI Chief Executive
SOUTH AFRICA – Mecia Petersen has been appointed as the new chief executive of the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI), the organization announced recently.
The South African Table Grape Industry (SATI), a partnership between growers, exporters, and other stakeholders, was established to foster unity and promote excellence, sustainability, and equitable practices within the industry.
Petersen, who has been with SATI since March 2022, steps into the role vacated by AJ Griesel at the end of May and will officially assume her new position on July 1.
Petersen has played a key role at SATI over the past year, managing significant projects that align with the organization’s strategic objectives.
She has been instrumental in market development campaigns, communications initiatives, and the collation of the SATI levy application. Her appointment follows a rigorous recruitment process, underscoring her commitment and expertise.
“Her skills and expertise are well-placed to lead SATI towards its objective of maintaining South Africa’s position in key export markets while developing new opportunities,” said SATI chairperson Anton Viljoen.
Petersen’s collaborative approach aligns with SATI’s goal of building productive private-public working relationships.
Petersen’s appointment comes at a time when the South African table grape industry is reflecting on a season marked by both challenges and achievements.
The 2023/2024 season ended with a total of 75.7 million cartons inspected and 73.5 million cartons exported. This represents a 17% increase in exports compared to the previous season.
Despite the overall growth, the season was not without its difficulties. Logistics posed significant challenges, with delays experienced due to crane breakdowns and port congestion.
“It was a season of missed opportunities due to logistical challenges, but at the same time most producers feel it was an acceptable season overall,” noted AJ Griesel, outgoing SATI CEO.
To mitigate future logistics issues, SATI is exploring new solutions. One of these is a predictive model introduced by Transnova Africa, aimed at improving logistics scenarios and ensuring smoother operations in the future.
The top exported grape cultivars from South Africa showed substantial growth, with Sweetglobe, Autumncrisp, Early Sweet, and Ivory leading the way. This growth is a positive indicator for the industry, which has seen a 2.7% growth in inspection volumes over the last decade.
Petersen expressed her enthusiasm for her new role and her vision for the future. “I look forward to working with the SATI team to bring innovative and fresh ideas to the industry,” she said.
“I am excited at the opportunity to contribute impactfully to one of South Africa’s key economic sectors and am proud to be a woman in agri.”
With Petersen at the helm, SATI aims to continue its mission of maintaining South Africa’s position as a leading global supplier of table grapes while exploring new market opportunities.
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Mecia Petersen appointed as new SATI Chief Executive
SOUTH AFRICA – Mecia Petersen has been appointed as the new chief executive of the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI), the organization announced recently.
The South African Table Grape Industry (SATI), a partnership between growers, exporters, and other stakeholders, was established to foster unity and promote excellence, sustainability, and equitable practices within the industry.
Petersen, who has been with SATI since March 2022, steps into the role vacated by AJ Griesel at the end of May and will officially assume her new position on July 1.
Petersen has played a key role at SATI over the past year, managing significant projects that align with the organization’s strategic objectives.
She has been instrumental in market development campaigns, communications initiatives, and the collation of the SATI levy application. Her appointment follows a rigorous recruitment process, underscoring her commitment and expertise.
“Her skills and expertise are well-placed to lead SATI towards its objective of maintaining South Africa’s position in key export markets while developing new opportunities,” said SATI chairperson Anton Viljoen.
Petersen’s collaborative approach aligns with SATI’s goal of building productive private-public working relationships.
Petersen’s appointment comes at a time when the South African table grape industry is reflecting on a season marked by both challenges and achievements.
The 2023/2024 season ended with a total of 75.7 million cartons inspected and 73.5 million cartons exported. This represents a 17% increase in exports compared to the previous season.
Despite the overall growth, the season was not without its difficulties. Logistics posed significant challenges, with delays experienced due to crane breakdowns and port congestion.
“It was a season of missed opportunities due to logistical challenges, but at the same time most producers feel it was an acceptable season overall,” noted AJ Griesel, outgoing SATI CEO.
To mitigate future logistics issues, SATI is exploring new solutions. One of these is a predictive model introduced by Transnova Africa, aimed at improving logistics scenarios and ensuring smoother operations in the future.
The top exported grape cultivars from South Africa showed substantial growth, with Sweetglobe, Autumncrisp, Early Sweet, and Ivory leading the way. This growth is a positive indicator for the industry, which has seen a 2.7% growth in inspection volumes over the last decade.
Petersen expressed her enthusiasm for her new role and her vision for the future. “I look forward to working with the SATI team to bring innovative and fresh ideas to the industry,” she said.
“I am excited at the opportunity to contribute impactfully to one of South Africa’s key economic sectors and am proud to be a woman in agri.”
With Petersen at the helm, SATI aims to continue its mission of maintaining South Africa’s position as a leading global supplier of table grapes while exploring new market opportunities.
For all the latest fresh produce industry news updates from Africa, the Middle East, and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.