The final ClemenLuz clementines are rolling over the packlines at Good Hope Marketing in Citrusdal to make way for Nules next week. Their citrus campaign is just hitting its stride with the first arrivals (Satsumas in Russia) landing this week.
Because their Satsuma crop is early, it competes with the last of the Northern Hemisphere's late mandarins in Russia and the UK. "It's made life for Satsumas a bit more difficult than last year – but that was an unusually good year on Sats. We're seeing that there's a bit of a gap developing in the market now but we'll only know for sure when more of our fruit have arrived," says Melt van Schoor, marketing manager at Good Hope Marketing.
A product whose popularity among clients is on the rise, the South African cultivar Leandri, will be packed from week 22 to week 26. Its only downside, he says, is its window where it competes with Novas and Nules. Nadorcotts will be packed from week 28 to 38.
Red Sea disrupts distribution patterns
They expect this year to see the worth of solid, dependable programme business again affirmed, while their decision-making will at the same time also be influenced by the attractive orange juice price which is lifting the price floor of exports, similar to last year.
"It's a difficult year to predict because of the Red Sea situation's effect on the abnormal distribution of other competing countries like Egypt. At the start of South Africa's orange season Europe will definitely still be saturated, depending on how long it takes Egyptian product to be worked away and demand to pick up."
He continues: "We're a bit more optimistic about easy peelers. It probably won't be what it was last year, but it's already started picking up and we're hoping that trend will continue."
The USA has consistently been profitable for Western Cape citrus growers. Good Hope Marketing supplies US retail programmes on the East Coast with easy peelers and navels. "We're excited about the campaigns ahead in the US and in Canada."
The Middle East is quickly saturated due to its proximity to South Africa, making it a high-risk but nevertheless important destination at specific times of the year. The Far East is also not a major focal point although, Van Schoor points out, there are definite opportunities and they do selective business there.
Normal-sized crop for Good Hope Marketing
High heat and its impact on the sizing of the South African citrus crop has been frequently mentioned at the outset of the 2024 season, but from the orchards supplying Good Hoop Marketing a different picture emerges.
"We're seeing a normal count distribution this season: last year our fruit was very large, but for us it's back to the usual sizing."
For more information:
Melt van Schoor
Good Hope Marketing
Tel: +27 22 921 8100
https://www.linkedin.com/company/good-hope-marketing/?originalSubdomain=za