A recent BerriesZA symposium demonstrated the levels of optimism and commitment within South Africa’s blueberry industry, remarks the organisation's new chairperson.
“The new blueberry crop is looking promising, this early on, but there’s been too little to really know, but enough to get you excited,” says Herman van Dyk, chief operating officer of Six33 and now also BerriesZA’s new chairperson.
He takes over from Justin Mudge, a blueberry grower who has been a passionate advocate for the industry, especially during last year’s port worker strike right at the peak of blueberries.
The early fruit has been exported since week 14 to Malaysia, Singapore, Ireland and the UK. Volumes are picking up in the north of the country but the usual October peak will probably move later, he says, by between ten days and as much as three weeks in some areas.
Current heavy rain in the Western Cape could have an effect on flower formation, but they’d much rather have it now than during September, he observes. A crop estimate for this season is being finalized, Herman says, but early indications are that it will be higher than last year’s 24,000 tonnes of exports.
New-found optimism after two trying years
“Our technical symposium three weeks ago was a great success and it created a lot of positive energy. It was heartening to see how many suppliers continue seeing opportunity in the industry,” Herman says.
“South African farmers are very resilient, we always look for the positive in a situation.”
He says they’d like to pull the few remaining non-members in the industry blueberry growers into the fold; he’s convinced of the value they add to an industry which has emerged through two difficult years and came out on the other side, more mature.
They are putting a lot of effort into two specific areas: the one is to open new markets for South Africa’s blueberries (in that regards India and Israel are furthest along the path and might even be ready within twelve months).
Focus on pre- and postharvest R&D
The other facet is research and development, funded by grower levies.
“We’re spending a lot of money to determine how we can place our product better in the market. And it’s not only on pre-harvest research, but postharvest as well. South Africa has a good name in blueberries and that’s something we work hard to protect,” he says.
Part of this maturity is that the number of new greenfield blueberry ventures has significantly dropped.
Old orchards of non-performing varieties are making way for new varieties – he notes that the availability of cultivars by new entrants has changed the dynamics in the industry and has increased healthy competition.
For more information:
Elzette Schutte
BerriesZA
Tel: +27 82 411 0500
Email: elzette@berriesa.co.za
https://www.berriesza.co.za/