Apple farmers in the Ceres and Elgin, Grabouw, Vyeboom, Villiersdorp (EGVV) areas of the Western Cape are assessing the damage from the past weekend’s storm that brought gale-force winds and rain. While initial concerns were high, early reports suggest limited losses to the apple crop.
According to Roelf Pienaar, managing director of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, they are collecting data on the impact the recent storms have had on the farmers and communities.
“We are currently doing a damage assessment but it appears our production areas were not hit as hard as those closer to Stellenbosch. We will have a clearer picture in a few days but things are looking positive,” he said.
Minimal damage to some apple varieties
The storm impacted Pink Lady, Rosy Glow, Granny Smith, and Sundowner apple varieties, with some currently being harvested and others nearing picking time.
Meanwhile, Rossouw Cillié, proprietor of Laastedrift Agri, said that they are still figuring out the extent of the damage, but said some lose some Pink Lady and Rosy Glow apples blown off the trees. “Luckily, around 80% of our crop is already harvested, and hopefully, the damage is not as bad as it seems,” he said.
While some fruit was lost, the cooler weather brought by the storm is a welcome change for many growers.
Arno Reuvers, a Two-A-Day producer from the Elgin Valley, said, “The cold snap is actually good news for the colour development of our Pink Lady apples. The downside is that picking will be delayed a bit until the orchards dry out.”
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Port delays due to strong winds
According to Chris Knoetze, managing director of Link Supply Chain Management, the rain caused some disruptions at the Port of Cape Town, which has been experiencing delays due to strong winds exceeding 80km/h since last Thursday. “Operations will likely be on and off for the time being, depending on wind conditions,” he said.
Overall, the Western Cape apple industry seems to have dodged a bullet. While some farms experienced minor losses and delays, the cooler weather and limited damage are a relief for growers heading into the peak harvest season.
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