Europe Edition
In the Hex River Valley grape growers are warily watching threatening skies, again, as yet more rain is predicted for the Western Cape.
“If it rains now it’ll cause big problems and the season will pretty much be at its end,” says an exporter. They have several hundred thousand of mostly Crimson (and a bit of Autumn Royal) still to be packed; traditionally South African grapes would arrive in export markets up until week 21 or 22.
A few weeks ago the Western Cape’s packing was halted for a week as a result of the delays at the harbour caused by wind (among other things – some in the freight industry maintain that the port is only 50% responsible for delays; the other half of the blame lies with inefficiencies among freight forwarders and container depots that result in truck drivers sent hither and thither).
The flow through coldstores is better, the exporter adds, but the backlog in the harbour is “terrible “.
“At the moment we are getting space and we’re getting containers and we can get them into the stacks. There’ve been changes to vessel schedules to try and catch up but I don’t think they’ll be able to sort out the backlog before the citrus season,” he comments.
“Could’ve been a great end to grapes”
Rain at various times this grape season has resulted in quality problems and for that reason, grapes have been moving slowly through the packhouse as bunches are carefully worked over.
Export programmes in simple packaging are favoured in case of a rejection when grapes need to be repacked for the local market.
“An early end to the South African table grape season is bad: it’s bad for clients, it’s bad for us, but for those who can make it, prices will be good,” observes a grape exporter. There is little Chilean product in Europe which doesn’t buy much from Brazil.
“The overseas market will definitely be in short supply which actually presents a very good opportunity for late South African grapes, and a chance to obtain good prices. It could’ve been a great end to our season. It certainly felt like the quality and shelf life were better this year.”
The UK remains a stable grape market, while China was much better than last year, FreshPlaza was told, “but only if you send the right product”.
The East was fairly difficult this season, purchase power has diminished. In the Middle East prices are “not on standard”.
Announcements
Vacancies
- Junior Sales Manager
- Technical Sales Representative, Leamington, Ontario
- HR Generalist
- Technical Sales Representative, Ancaster, Ontario
- Head Grower Strawberries (West Virginia USA)
- Global Sourcing Manager
- Buying Operations Manager (BOM Process)
- Sourcing Manager EU
- Ein- und Verkäufer Obst
- Manager Operations Ethiopia
Specials more
Top 5 - yesterday
- Ukrainian dam that was essential for agriculture has been destroyed
- Automation and sustainability were the buzz words
- Mission Produce introduces non-destructive testing tech in United Kingdom
- New Zealand organic apples will help supply short US market
- Chilean technical cherry tours to Spain in full swing again
Top 5 - last week
- Last year, more than 6,000 hectares of citrus fruit were abandoned in the Valencian production areas
- South African fruit exports can’t do without Russia
- “It’s time to interrupt the North American mushroom industry”
- Fruits and vegetables rich in flavonols help prevent memory loss
- "The lower prices are however seeing demand for macadamias pick up locally"
Top 5 - last month
- Risk of heart disease might drop significantly by drinking these fruit juices
- “Right now, everybody in the US is desperate for grapes”
- South African strawberry aficionados in for a Woolworths treat
- Japanese farmer produces mangoes that sell for $230 each
- UK and Europe “screaming for citrus” but still more rain for South Africa
Can backlog at port be worked away before citrus starts?
Yet more rain could spell quickened end to South African grapes
Publication date:
Author:
Carolize Jansen
©
FreshPlaza.com
Receive the daily newsletter in your email for free | Click here
Other news in this sector:
- 2023-06-07 Grapes are Ninh Thuan's key crop, accounting for about 20% of total production value
- 2023-06-07 Upcoming Polish apple harvest expected to be lower in volumes
- 2023-06-07 Stone fruit harvest ongoing in Central Valley
- 2023-06-07 More than 90% of this year’s Georgia peaches lost after extreme winter weather
- 2023-06-07 Table grape breeder to open research laboratory this summer
- 2023-06-07 “India could be a new China for Chilean cherry”
- 2023-06-07 Australian consumers incredulous about cost of strawberries at Coles
- 2023-06-07 Spain: Strawberries get into politics
- 2023-06-07 County Armagh growers see their crops struggle under summer sun
- 2023-06-07 Lack of rain is affecting strawberry and sweet corn farms in Northeast Ohio
- 2023-06-06 Increased consumption and steady quotations for melons and watermelons in Italy
- 2023-06-06 Cape Cod cranberry growers are phasing out older cranberry varieties
- 2023-06-06 Yakima Valley turned Covid-period experiment into a full-fledged strawberry business
- 2023-06-06 Chilean technical cherry tours to Spain in full swing again
- 2023-06-06 "Limited good-quality Spanish fruit makes for high prices"
- 2023-06-06 Government Murcia estimates storm damage from the last few days to come in at €47 million
- 2023-06-06 New Zealand organic apples will help supply short US market
- 2023-06-06 Uzbekistan: assortment of imported exotics and local fruits and berries continues to expand
- 2023-06-06 Tonnes of British apples sold to UK supermarkets by BAPL growers in April 2023
- 2023-06-06 "Interest in cherries from Aragon has increased after the rains affected production in Extremadura”
