The South African canning fruit industry is still faced with uncertainty as fruit farmers uproot trees in an effort to reduce their exposure.
According to the CEO of the Canning Fruit Producers’ Association, Jacques Jordaan, challenges faced by fruit farmers could have an effect on the future supply of canning fruit for canned fruit processors in the country.
The reason, he explained, is that some fruit farmers narrow their focus and explore alternative crops with the current uncertainty in the industry.
“[As a result] farmers are now consolidating their farms. There aren’t many new farms and the profitability of orchards is under pressure. Instead of branching out, they are consolidating mostly,” Jordaan explained.
He also does not expect farmers to increase plantings. “There is a lot of uncertainty at the moment,” he said.
Fruit farmers plant veggies
Hortgro group communications manager Elise-Marie Steenkamp told Food For Mzansi that it is common practice for fruit farmers to supplement their fruit-farming operation with vegetables. This is to diversify their offering, improve soil health, and spread out risks. It provides farmers with an additional source of income.
“Deciduous fruit farmers often plant seasonal vegetables such as onions and butternut as so-called ‘cash crops’. This is nothing new and has a long history,” she explained.
Only the best for canned fruit lovers
In South Africa, fruits such as apricots, pears and peaches are canned. Very few grapes and apples are used as canned products. When it comes to canning peaches and apricots, only clingstone peaches and Bulida apricots are suitable because they have enough flavour, texture, and colour.
“The clingstone peaches, apricots, and Bon Chretien pears have excellent adaptability to local environmental conditions and have been bred in South Africa. The rest of the world cannot compete with South Africa in terms of canned fruit quality (flavour, texture, colour),” Jordaan said.
“I do not think local canned fruit products have been affected. Internationally we might lose market share to major canning fruit countries like Greece. We need to stay involved and act as a mouthpiece for the producers, industry, and stakeholders. The stakes are too high and failure is not an option,” he added.
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