After a Covid-enforced hiatus, South Africa’s favourite privately-organised avocado symposium returns to Tzaneen on 16 and 17 August, now bearing the name of the Allesbeste Symposium.
Right: Allesbeste has been at the forefront of trellising avocado trees
The eponymous farming enterprise made great strides in commercialising the Maluma avocado, a dark skin cultivar well-known for its ability to attain optimal size calibres under high heat conditions.
Allesbeste has a depth of experience in strategically marketing new varieties in a high-risk market; the Maluma cultivar has over the past 23 years been successfully introduced to Peru, Spain, Israel, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, the USA, Portugal, Morocco, Egypt, India, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, New Zealand and Australia.
Worldwide Maluma plantings have reached 5,200 ha and in the country of origin, South African growers have established 2,570ha of Maluma avocados.
The small seed of the Maluma avocado is a salient feature of the cultivar
High rainfall during season’s runup
South Africa’s avocado-producing regions had unusually high amounts of rainfall before the start of the season which delayed maturation and resulted in small counts on Hass fruit.
Industry dispensation regarding dry mass allowed many growers to pick earlier for a European market that held up well during the early parts of the season, notes Donovan Lewis, Allesbeste’s marketing manager.
Donovan Lewis at the 2020 symposium organised by Allesbeste
“Maluma avocados performed well with optimal size distribution for marketers, accompanied by more small counts like on Hass, as a result of the high rainfall.”
He adds that there is a fair amount of extra out-of-season fruit which will be ready from the end of August or beginning of September.
Analysis of avocado markets
“The last few seasons have been quite unpredictable. Are we getting back to more predictive markets? That is one of the themes we’ll be delving into at the symposium.”
Donovan notes that prices on the European market had held up well during the early part of the season.
“The exchange rate has helped with securing better prices back on farm level. Over the past few weeks avocado market prices have dropped fast with the big influx of fruit from Peru.”
He adds that, following the theme of previous symposia, their local and international speakers will address a wide range of topics, spanning from pre- and post-harvest to marketing.
Allesbeste Symposium brings top names in avo industry to South Africa
The Maluma cultivar as well as various established and new rootstocks have been the focus of trials spanning many years by Allesbeste and their grower partners across the world.
At the symposium the results will, as during previous iterations, be shared with growers, with a particular focus on the nutrition regimes that optimise the potential of this cultivar, noted for its heat and drought resistance.
As always the symposium will bring well-known international names in the avocado industry to address the South African avocado sector.
To register for the Allesbeste Symposium, follow this link. Early bird registration costs R550 (including a shirt) ends on 23 July. Registrations for the symposium will be accepted until 4 August.
Allesbeste orchard visits are always a highlight for symposium attendees
For more information:
Donovan Lewis
Allesbeste
Mobile: +27 74 589 8429
Email: maluma@allesbeste.com
donovan@allesbeste.com
https://www.allesbeste.com