Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples are currently being harvested in South Africa, while the Fuji crop is finished in what is expected to be a record apple crop.
South Africa's pear harvesting has been mostly done, a very good year from a quality point of view.
Recent warm weather in the Western Cape has been having a negative effect on colour development on later varieties like Pink Lady but the industry is hoping for some cooler weather and sharper day-night temperature differences to improve colour development on the bi-coloureds.
Cooler weather and light rain have been forecast for the Western Cape throughout next week.
“It's not a disaster,” says an apple grower in the Breede River Valley. “We're having a warmer beginning to our autumn, just as Europe is having a cold start to their spring, but all in all I think the apples are having a fantastic year.”
He remarks that a cooler autumn would've just been “the cherry on the top” to what has been a very good season production- and quality-wise.
Apple exports to North America are 58% down compared to last year's figures while UK apple exports were 67% up by week 15. UK pear exports from South Africa are up by 36%.
The expectation is of a little bit more space for Southern Hemisphere product in the European market.