Growers are positive about the crop for the 2024/2025 export season. Early indications are that overall volumes will increase compared to last year. This comes after a challenging 2023/2024 season that included extreme weather events (storms, fog, strong winds in…
A normal pome fruit season is anticipated for the 2020 season. With good 2019 winter rain, many of the growers are able to prepare a good crop. In general, colour development and pack-outs look promising at this stage. Only on…
By Kara van der Berg Apricots have been eaten since ancient times. The Romans called it Praecocum – the precious one. The tiny stone fruits are packed with protein, fibre, and minerals and have been found to be effective in…
South Africa is rapidly establishing itself as the leading and preferred source of Pink Lady apples from the Southern Hemisphere. According to Kantar data, Pink Lady sales in the United Kingdom (UK) have risen by 13% over the past year,…
New management, more transparency, better cooperation, and ongoing improvements have helped to turn around the backlog at the Cape Town port (CTP) for fruit exports. It is, however, still a long road ahead to get port productivity on par with the…
By Jacques du Preez After an unexpected, but welcome, increase in stone fruit production during the previous season, especially the plum industry is anticipating export volumes that are in line with the 2021/22 season. Normality has returned after the drought…
Notification issued by the Government of India opens new opportunities for Indian importers to increase volumes The Government of India has approved in-transit cold treatment for South African apple and pear exports to India. The advantage of the cold treatment…
By Jacques du Preez The 2023 harvest is in full swing, and growers are anticipating an export crop that is slightly lower than the previous season. The lower export volumes are a result of hail experienced during November and December…
Despite the challenge of the drought, South Africa can fulfil its commitments to the market for the 2017/2018 season. There has been very little relief from the drought that has been plaguing the Western Cape for the majority of 2017…
Sainsbury’s named ‘South African Stone Fruit Retailer of the Year’ Sainsbury’s were presented with the Stone Fruit Retailer of the Year award after a strong 2018/19 season and continued support for the South African category. South African growers’ association Hortgro presents…
South African pome fruit producers are looking forward to exports bouncing back. This, on the back of a lower pome fruit export crop due to hail damage in some of the major fruit producing areas during 2023. The 2024 harvest…
The information shared here is based on official documents regarding maturity and quality standards for stone fruit, downloaded from the National Department of Agriculture’s website. [3 October 2025] Apricot Export Standards: apricots_reg2022 apricots-part3_reg2022 apricots-tab_reg2022 apricots-part3_tab2022 Plum Export Standards: plums_reg2022_ plums-tab-2022…