Chinese boost for table grapes
2007-02-22
SOUTH AFRICAN table grape farmers have received a huge boost after a new protocol giving South African grapes access to China, was signed recently in the presence of Chinese President Hu Jintao and South Africa’s head of State, Thabo Mbeki.
“Great care must be taken to maintain diligence at all times,” said Li Chuanqing, Minister for General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).
“China, in developing its bi-lateral co-operation with South Africa, places a high premium on the safety of the products which is supplied to its citizens.”
SA Table Grape Industry chairman Graham Retief also spoke at a dinner hosted for Chuanqing, at Grande Roche in Paarl. Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Cobus Dowry also attended.
“The conclusion of this protocol is the result of a concerted effort by SATI to create new marketing opportunities for South African growers and exporters. We now have a great responsibility to make this work,” he said.
“Apart from giving us access to the fastest growing economy in the world, this is also a unique opportunity to diversify our markets and lessen our dependence on the United Kingdom and Western Europe. Last year we sold around 80% of our grapes in the UK and Europe and we can simply not go on doing that.”
Retief also said that the Chinese market opened huge new opportunities for the South African industry, but he warned growers and exporters that they would have to comply with the letter and word of the protocol.
South Africa annually ships about 50 million cartons of table grapes to international markets from 800 production units in the north, the north-west and the western parts of the country. It also markets significant volumes in a growing local market.
According to Retief there does not seem to be specific grape colour preferences in China, although large berried red varieties have been doing well across the Far East region.
The Chinese consumers definitely place a premium on taste and prefer larger berry sizes. The need exists to supply that in order to be successful.
Retief stated that although the protocol has been signed, he did not expect much fruit to be shipped this season.
“We are well past the halfway mark of the season and we are encouraging growers and exporters to quaint themselves with the requirements before they enter the market. Realistically that will mean that 2008 will be our first full season under the new protocol.”
Elaine Alexander, Executive Director of SATI, also called for discipline amongst growers and exporters to ensure that all aspects of the protocol is complied with. She also noted that the pre-clearance process by Chinese technical experts was still underway.
“The final version of the protocol has brought some pleasant surprises for us because we have been granted permission to use the South China ports of Guangzhou and Shenzhen for the first time.
“The Chinese have also waived the clause that provides for bi-annual inspections of the South African vineyards. Once the first official inspection by AQSIQ has been completed, the maintenance of the standards required will be left in the hands of the South African Department of Agriculture.”
Alexander said that the use of the South Chinese ports and the new inspection procedures were major steps forward in assuring that South Africa reaches its full potential in the Chinese market.
“The Chinese consumers in the South are used to our products and we will be saving a huge amount in transportation cost because we do not have to transport over vast distances from the northern ports to the south.”
Table grapes are the second South African fruit category to be granted access to China. South African citrus was admitted previously and they will also now benefit from the new shipping and inspection arrangements.
“We hope that the other South African products such as apples, pears and stone fruit will also soon be accepted because it will enable South Africa to market and promote its full basket of fruits in this important region, Retief concluded.
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