strengthening against the Pound. “Any gains as a result of a weaker Rand in the first part of the season are short term as our input costs are in dollars. We don’t have a view about where the Rand should be pegged but do need currency stability, whatever the level, although with local government elections on the horizon in August this year, it is unlikely the currency will stabilise much and we can all expect some volatility. We also know from previous years that there are often factional flareups and protest action in the run up to an election. We hope that short-term political point scoring won’t impact the Western Cape agricultural industry which contributes more than R6 billion to the economy each year. We take our job of selling our fruit very seriously and know that over 15, 200 people and their families rely on our ability to secure the best prices for South African apples and pears for their livelihoods.” he ends.
South Africa: Strong top fruit harvest tempered by currency fluctuations
strengthening against the Pound. “Any gains as a result of a weaker Rand in the first part of the season are short term as our input costs are in dollars. We don’t have a view about where the Rand should be pegged but do need currency stability, whatever the level, although with local government elections on the horizon in August this year, it is unlikely the currency will stabilise much and we can all expect some volatility. We also know from previous years that there are often factional flareups and protest action in the run up to an election. We hope that short-term political point scoring won’t impact the Western Cape agricultural industry which contributes more than R6 billion to the economy each year. We take our job of selling our fruit very seriously and know that over 15, 200 people and their families rely on our ability to secure the best prices for South African apples and pears for their livelihoods.” he ends.