The first South African and Namibian table grapes of the new season were scheduled to be packed in week 45 and the season in the Orange River region will be in full swing by week 47.
The new South African table grape season has started and growers across the countries table grape regions are hoping that 2010 will turn out much better than the early expectation would seem to indicate.
The total South African crop is estimated at between 48 and 50 million cartons, with an additional 3,5 million cartons expected to be shipped by Namibian growers. “We expect a good crop, but nothing spectacular in terms of volume,” says Jaco Kruger from The Grape Company.
With the first signs that there is more confidence returning to the world economy, South African growers are also realistic that this season may still be a very tough one. In addition they have to deal with a 30% strengthening of the South African currency during the past few months, which will erode farm income further.
“We are confident that we will again be able to deliver on our quality promise,” says Elaine Alexander, Sati’s Executive Director. “It has been our long term strategy to enhance South Africa’s position as the preferred supplier of table grapes around the world and we have made a lot of progress in recent years.”
The early indications are that the Orange River will again be one week later than what a normal harvesting time would be. The crop will be similar to last year when close to 15 million cartons were exported. “We are quietly optimistic about the season,” says Pieter Karsten (Jnr), Marketing Director of the Karsten Group. “Harvesting will start in the Blouputs region, with Raap & Skraap of our Keboes Farming operations and Klein Pella in the Lower Orange River region following immediately afterwards.”
Mr Karsten says the new season will present its own set of problems, but that there are enough signs which will boost confidence. “It is important to have strong trading relations and that is what we have been working on during the past few years.”
At the other end of the South African production spectrum in the latest region, the Hex River Valley, the crop is estimated between 18,5 and 19 million cartons. “The crop looks good, but we expect a tough year. Due to production cost increases and the effect of the exchange rate, growers will battle to balance their books,” says Anton Viljoen, prominent grower in the region.
“We are hoping that some stability will return to the grape sector,” commented Mr Kruger. “The exchange rates and uncertainties relating to the economy are making things tough.”
With the challenges of a new season ahead of them, the South African industry is mindful that they will have to face much bigger challenges before the season is over.
The problem of replacing Ethepon, a product that is used to enhance the colour break of red grape varieties before harvest, will have to be met. A new IRL that will limited the use of Ethepon in the European Union will come into effect in April and is like to have a huge effect on the industry.
“We are working on alternatives,” says Elaine Alexander, Executive Director, “and we hope that we will soon be able to see beyond Ethepon. The industry is obviously quite worried about the situation and it is something that will have to be resolved.”
Industry leaders told Eurofruit that 35% of the export crop consists of red varieties and growers struggle to get the grapes to colour in time before they are too ripe to be harvested and exported. “It is clearly of vital importance that the industry work together and share information to counter the effect that this will have on exports,” says Mr Kruger.
Another major challenge that local growers will have to deal with is production problems with Red Globe which is resulting in some vineyards of the cultivar having already been pulled out. Johan van Niekerk, Chairman of SATI, told Eurofruit that red Globe do not colour well in the Orange River and in the northern regions it is normally attacked by mildew which results in major losses. In the Cape it is also prone to diseases.
“It is a matter of concern,” says Anton Viljoen, ‘because this variety is supposed to earn good returns for us in the Far East region.”
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