Interest in South Africa’s subtropical and berry offering is stimulated by Peru’s limited presence in Europe this season.
Bet-el Fruits started exporting blueberries in 2019, as open blueberry varieties unlocked opportunities.
All of their blueberry supply is grown in the Western Cape where the season has been very late, says Martin de Kock, subtropical and berry marketer at the Paarl-based exporter that is strong on citrus and table grapes as well.
“We’ve had very good arrivals on the blueberries, in Europe and the UK our clients have been very pleased, and prices look like they’re holding. It definitely makes a different that Peru is less of a player, we can see that in the level of demand.”
Mango demand is also stimulated by the Peruvian situation, but it remains to be seen how much of a mango export crop is left after the mini-tornado which tore through the Blyde River Valley in Mpumalanga.
De Kock recently visited Limpopo litchi orchards (right).
“We do see interest on early litchis,” he notes.
“However there’s a noticeable decrease in litchi volumes through sunburn during the heatwave and the season has been late. And despite Madagascar’s litchis already in Europe, there’s still space to be filled, here and there.”
Bet-el Fruits' seedless watermelons
Bet-el Fruits will market Keitt and Kent mangoes grown in Clanwilliam, South Affrica’s last mangoes of the season, to the Middle East, with some interest from the UK too.
“We’d like to do a seafreight trial with mangoes this season. Currently we send watermelons primarily to the Middle East. We’ve been doing it for a couple of years. We’re considering perhaps a test run to Europe but we’re a bit wary of the port situation.”
Melons from the Western and Eastern Cape are also exported but it’s not an easy trade, De Kock notes, due to the limited shelf life.
“We’re also looking at strawberries and butternuts. On vegetables we’ve seen a reduction in our trade. A buyer has told us they can more easily source vegetables from Kenya and Tanzania.”
Namibian dates round out their tropical portfolio; the UK ahead of Ramadan offers some opportunities.
For more information:
Martin de Kock
Bet-el Fruits
Tel: +27 82 826 6995
Email: martin@betelfruits.co.za
https://betelfruits.com/