The South African table grape harvest has passed the halfway mark and is proceeding extremely well for Exsa, one of the only South African fruit exporters that specialises in only the production and export of top-quality grapes from South Africa. The past few weeks have provided excellent weather for the ripening of grapes in the later production areas in the Western Cape and receivers can expect good volumes of top-quality, mid-to-late season varieties.
Exsa Growers winners of the 2021 Hex Valley Table Grape Block Competition(left to right): Paul Joubert (2nd place), Gawie Joubert, (3rd place), Kosie Meissenheimer (1st Place) and Jacques de Kock (5th place).
Repeated winners of Block competitions shows Exsa’s commitment to quality
"That Exsa growers are committed to quality is a given. They invariably lead the field amongst the winners of the regional annual table grape block competitions and this year this tradition has continued," says Exsa technical advisor Werner Naudé.
Every year, growers who believe that they have excellent vineyard blocks enter these local competitions. These are keenly contested competitions with generous sponsorships and growers compete for the accolade of winner for the best vineyard block to showcase their farming ability.
The winners of the Hex River Valley competition were announced towards the end of February. Exsa growers took home four of the five
prizes awarded in the established vineyard category of the Hex River Valley table grape competition. This is the fourth consecutive year that the first prize has been awarded to an Exsa grower. Earlier in the season, Exsa growers also achieved two places in the Olifants River Table Grape competition. Here, the tradition of Exsa growers placed within the top achievers has also been ongoing for several years.
A carton of Allison grapes, packed and ready for export
Focusing on quality and varieties sets Exsa apart
“At Exsa, the main goal is to farm sustainably, with a quality offer of the correct varieties as our mission,” says Naudé. “Being quality driven, we know that the process starts in the vineyard. Looking at the past few years, and the accolades that we have won, I think it shows that we are succeeding in providing an offer of popular varieties with excellent quality.”
Naudé explained that during the harvest when the Exsa growers harvest and pack their grapes, Exsa completes two quality checks daily at each packhouse. He added that receivers can still expect good volumes of top-quality Crimson Seedless, Sweet Globe, Autumn Crisp, Sweet Joy and Allison.
For more information:
https://exsa.com/