© Alexandra Sautois, Eurofresh Distribution

South Africa’s tangerine/mandarin crop is projected to rise by 12% in the 2019/20 campaign, continuing the sector’s strong growth of recent times. Total production is estimated to reach 421,000 tons, mainly due to an increase in production area, normal weather conditions, and improved winter rainfall received in the main production area of the Western Cape. Moreover, many plantings are now reaching maturity. COVID had a minimal impact on labour supply.

South Africa’s 2019/20 grapefruit output is estimated to be up 4% to 387,000 tons, according to CGA data. The good crop is due to normal weather conditions, an increase in area planted and improved yields. Also, grapefruit production is cyclical, and 2018/19 MY was a down year. Grapefruit is normally harvested between March and September, and the impact of COVID-19 on production, harvest and labour has been minimal to date.

South Africa’s 2019/20 orange crop is projected to grow by 1% to 1.6 million tons, according to CGA data. The increase is attributed to good rainfall in the main growing regions, the rise in area planted, better water management techniques by farmers, and new plantings of high yielding and late-maturing varieties.

South Africa’s 2019/20 apple crop is projected to climb 5% to 942,200 tons (source: USDA). This growth is due to the increase in planted are, yields and available irrigation water. The impact of COVID-19 on this year’s crop is expected to be minimal as South Africa has already harvested most of its fruit and full operations continued during the national lock-down.  

April marks the start of the 2020 citrus season in South Africa, which will no doubt be disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ports are reported to be operating at low levels, but packing of all fresh produce out of the country has so far continued uninterrupted, with farms and packing houses endeavouring to safeguard the working environment of over 120,000 workers.

Southern Africa is expected to export a record 143.3 million cartons of citrus fruit to over 100 countries in 2020. This is a 13% increase when compared to 2019, which saw 126.7 million cartons being exported, generating R20 billion in export revenue and creating 120 000 jobs.

This increase should translate into more job opportunities, foreign exchange revenue and will contribute towards national government’s goal of increased agricultural exports over the next few years.

Sustainable local supply chains for produce grown in remote areas are at the project’s heart

As South Africa’s farmers continue to battle the sustained drought the country has undergone in recent years, Hortgro, the organisation which represents South Africa’s stone and top fruit industries, has been supporting producers and agricultural workers to manage their product during the harvesting season. Hortgro Science provides research-based information to enhance the quality of South African stone and top fruit. Growers reportedly receive regular notes and technical updates from Hortgro Science, highlighting the primary fruit quality aspects to be adhered to during heat waves.

Hannes de Waal, managing director