Busy time for farmers
2007-01-11
TO Western Cape fruit farmers the festive season is the harvesting season and the quality of this year’s fruit is promising.
It’s the time of the year when everyone on grape, deciduous fruit and wine farms pulls out all the stops, working in the orchards or the vineyards from dawn till dark. Their holiday only starts in April.
About 95% of the Western Cape’s peach and apricot harvests are canned, juiced or processed to jam and other canned products, of which 90% is geared for the export market. Europe buys the bulk, followed by the East and the Americas.
According to Wiehahn Victor, general manager of the Canned Fruit Producers Association, the quality of fruit that has been received since mid-December has been good.
The apricot harvest of 35 000 ton has been gathered and although volumes are 40% less than last year, the quality is exceptionally good.
“Sometimes we have to discard a large amount of apricots because they are not up to standard for processing, but this year we managed to process substantial volumes.”
The cling peach harvest started around 20 December and will reach its peak within the next two weeks.
“We’re expecting a bigger harvest than last year. There was some rain and wind damage, but it was not serious. On average we produce 128 000 ton peaches annually, of which 80% is processed.”
Bon Chretien pears will be picked shortly. The expected harvest is 85 000 ton, of which 68% will be processed.
Dried Fruit Producers Association general manager, Dappies Smit, confirms the promising quality and volume of fruit.
“The deciding factor is now whether the exchange rate will stabilise.”
About 65% of the Western Cape’s dried fruit is exported, primarily to Europe, the United Kingdom, Northern America and the East.
“These are fussy markets seeking fruit of exceptionally high quality, but they are willing to pay for it.”
A Paarl farmer and general management member of Agri Wes-Cape, Willem Grobbelaar, agrees that fruit harvests in the Boland were not exposed to extreme weather conditions this year. His farm also produces export prunes to Europe and the United Kingdom.
Wine grape farmers are currently monitoring their vine blocks for sugar quality, cutting away small bunches that stunt growth and splitting off leaves that collect water to ensure bunches that dry quicker, resulting in a uniform colour.
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