fresh install v14 release - git problem

From: Jim Pazarena <fquest_at_paz.bz>
Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2023 22:22:27 UTC 
using git is new to me.
I have always used portsnap with fetch/extract/update

in a fresh v14 install, I have run:
/usr/sbin/pkg install git
git clone https://git.FreeBSD.org/ports.git /usr/ports
git -C /usr/ports pull

all seemed fine.
Then I installed a few ports, a reboot, and the next

git -C /usr/ports pull

received this CLI response:

unable to access 'https://git.FreeBSD.org/ports.git/': SSL certificate 
problem: unable to get local issuer certificate

not sure how to proceed ?
Assistance/advice would be appreciated.

-- 
Jim Pazarena         fquest@paz.bz
Haida Gwaii - British Columbia - Canada