In the Northern Provinces, intake volumes are a bit lower due to summer rain which is reported to be persistent. According to SATI the berry size and quality of grapes still look good. They continue to pack varieties such as Midnight Beauty, Tawny Seedless, Prime and Starlight.
Meanwhile in the Orange River region packing has started under optimal weather conditions leading to good quality grapes and berry sizes. Producers are packing Early Sweet, Prime and Flame. Cultivars that will follow in the next two weeks are Midnight Beauty, Ralli Seedless, Tawny Seedless and Sugraone.
Olifants River also started packing Tawny Seedless last week (week 49) followed by Flame this week (week 50). Early indications are that the vines are recovering after the recent drought.
The earlier parts of the Berg River is expected to start harvesting Flame and Prime in week 51 while the Hex River is getting ready to start with Starlight in week 51.
On 18 October 2019 SATI released the 1st Crop Estimate for the
2019/2020 season with intake volumes estimated to be between 61,05 million and 67,8 million cartons (4.5 kg equivalent).