The Uralian group United Exports has embarked on a major public relations campaign in support of its reputation in South Africa, amid an ongoing legal dispute with South African producer Ross Berries that has spilled over into a remarkable series of recriminations. public.

In a statement issued to the press, the company said it planned to double its investment in the region, and in particular in South Africa, over the next five years.

"As part of United Exports' global expansion, the company plans to invest more than R1.3 billion (US$85 million) over the next five years in South Africa's agricultural economy," the press release stated.

“This significant investment is expected to create an additional 8.400 new jobs across the country, and particularly in rural areas.”

He added: "United Exports' value chain already supports more than 10,000 jobs at the peak of the blueberry growing season, in various operations on farms, packing houses and export ports across the country."

Last week, the group accused Ross Berries of shipping fresh blueberries to Europe without paying the royalties it said were owed for the use of its proprietary OZblu varieties.

The indictment came after Dutch customs officials reportedly seized two containers of the fruit in Rotterdam in defense of EU laws governing intellectual property.

Ross Berries has refuted the allegations, with director Charles Rossouw accusing United Exports of attempting to fix prices and dismissing the claims as "without legal basis and simply part of a broader effort by United to control the entire supply chain of these varieties of blueberries. .

The seizures, made on October 27 and November 5 respectively, apparently involved a combined total of nearly 27 tons of fresh blueberries.

Breakdown of relationships

In the last 24 hours, more details have emerged about the previous business relationship between United Exports and Ross Berries, which is part of the family-owned Rossouw Group.

According to United Exports, Ross Berries was already licensed to produce OZblu berries under a license from Rosle Berries, also part of the Rossouw Group.

"However, Rosle Berries terminated this license, and consequently Ross Berries' right to produce proprietary OZblu fruit, in May 2020," he argued, although the South African company has questioned the legal implications of the previous agreement.

“At the end of November 6, 2020, Rosle Berries agreed to a new licensing agreement with United Exports for itself only, leaving its related company Ross Berries without a licence,” the Australian group suggested.

“Western Cape grower Ross Berries, under Chris Rossouw, has persisted in its rejection of an offer from United Exports for a provisional license that would legitimize its operations,” he continued.

"Instead, Ross Berries stubbornly and incorrectly claims authority to grow, export and sell United Export's patented OZblu fruit. This is fundamentally false and a complete violation of United Exports' intellectual property and proprietary rights.

'United Exports has developed the relevant varieties and retains ownership of the breeder's rights in respect of them in South Africa, in the European Union and elsewhere in the world.'

The group said it was committed to defending plant breeders' rights and maintaining strong trade relationships across the blueberry value chain. “The protection of plant rights and intellectual property, based on decades of human and financial capital investment, is essential to the stability and growth of the South African agricultural economy and a material component of the broader South African economy.”

United Exports confirmed that it had taken legal action in the EU and would "immediately commence proceedings in South Africa against Ross Berries" to protect its intellectual property.