Challenge turned to opportunity with the right partners

Corona beer, which originated in Mexico, is traditionally served with lime. But when beer-brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev added the brand to its line-up, it encountered a problem: a shortage of limes in South Africa. This presented a novel opportunity to increase local lime production and develop new farmers. Lindi Botha reports.

- Lindi Botha

While South Africa is one of the largest citrus producers in the world, lime production lags far behind, with a minuscule total of fewer than 100ha planted to this crop, compared with about 16 000ha planted to lemons. Moreover, South Africa has conducted little research on limes, and only a handful of cultivars are grown locally.

With limes growing in popularity in recent years, thanks to healthy eating trends, South Africa has to import most of its requirements. This comes at a great cost to the consumer, leading to many people substituting limes with lemons, to the detriment of flavor profiles.

This was the challenge that beer company Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) faced when Corona beer became part of its range after the company’s merger with South African Breweries.

Josh Hamman, AB InBev’s director of agricultural development and sustainability, says Corona beer, which is originally from Mexico, is normally served with a slice of lime as it greatly enhances the taste.

“We found that South Africans were using lemons instead, which taste completely different. The reason was that limes are very expensive, as there is [little commercial] production in South Africa.”

AB InBev saw this as an ideal opportunity to invest in local lime production and simultaneously fulfill its mandate to develop sectors linked to its business.

LIMES IN LIMPOPO