The volumes appear to be up according to the tables but this is partly due to the early harvest because of the heat and all the additional planting which has been done in recent years. The heat in the Oliphants River will lead to 20% less in the red cultivars. Rain in Week 2 brought further uncertainty and the crop could well be significantly lower than the original estimate. Packing will continue in the region for another 3 weeks.
In general, the harvest in Berg River is smaller than initially anticipated and this is largely attributed to the unusually hot weather conditions and the consequently smaller berries. The cooler weather during week 2, in particular the cooler night temperatures, was welcomed by the region as it has assisted with colour development of red and black cultivars. Packing is progressing well and the quality is excellent.
Packing of the early varieties in Hex River is completed as the warm weather continues in the region and the quality is very good. As a result of the sustained warm and dry conditions, the packing season is expected to be concentrated and will most probably end earlier than normal.
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