Amid the challenges of an early season, Tru-Cape said it was optimistic about the quality of the current apple and pear crop. Market conditions are also favourable for the South African industry.
Roelf Pienaar, managing director of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, said the 2023/24 season kicked off ten to fourteen days earlier than usual, and with the Ceres region being back on track after last year’s hail damage, the industry was experiencing a normal crop of satisfactory quality.
Harvest estimates steady
Yet, amidst the optimism, there was a sobering reality. Calla du Toit, the procurement manager, tempered expectations, acknowledging, “Our total volume might fall short of initial projections. But it’s not all doom and gloom. We’re looking at an above-average income season-wise, and production-wise, it’s holding steady.”
This is despite the industry body Hortgro estimated an increase of 7% and 1%, respectively, in apple and pear exports.
Meanwhile, volumes in the Elgin, Grabouw, Villiersdorp, and Vyeboom (EGVV) region are expected to be slightly up from last year, according to Attie van Zyl, managing director of Two-A-Day Group Limited.
“The pear volume is slightly down from our estimates but still in line with last year’s crop. Our apple volume (especially Royal Gala, Bigbucks, and Kanzi) increased from last year, but not as much as expected due to sunburn issues.”
Van Zyl said while the floods of 2023 were detrimental to varieties such as Forelle, the good water supply benefitted later varieties.
“It only emphasises how important it is to farm with a variety of cultivars,” Van Zyl said.
Francois Malan, the managing director of Ceres Fruit Growers, echoed the sentiment, “Yes, our region anticipated a bumper crop, but nature had other plans. Smaller sizes and volumes remind us of nature’s capricious ways.
“New varieties are the future. They withstand weather challenges better, ensuring both quality and profitability,” he said.
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Meanwhile, Roelf said the Far East, Middle East, and Europe beckon with favourable markets. Despite global uncertainties, South Africa’s strategic advantages shine through.
“Getting our fruits to market remains a challenge. Disruptions in canal routes and port issues inflate costs, straining our margins,” he said.
He is particularly excited about the rising demand for Bigbucks/Flash Gala from India and the Far East. “The new management at Transnet had a positive impact over the past two months, but there is still scope for improvement in the port of Cape Town.
“We were also fortunate that less wind during February led to fewer shipping delays. However, the logistics crisis is far from over,” he said.
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