South Africa's burgeoning blueberry industry is encountering significant challenges due to weather disruptions, port delays, and power outages, while neighboring countries like Zimbabwe are rapidly expanding their blueberry production.
Delays in ports are negatively impacting the industry, leading to rejections of produce due to late arrivals and compromised fruit quality. The inefficiencies in the shipping process result in financial losses for local producers. Load shedding, or scheduled power outages, is also contributing to challenges by increasing production costs, particularly the cost of diesel needed to power generators for cold storage according to www.foodformzansi.co.za
Nosindiso Pepu, junior production manager at Indigo Berries, explained that without backup generators, the quality of blueberries can be severely affected. Fruit that is not immediately cooled to the required temperature may experience quality issues, impacting its firmness, shelf life, and susceptibility to mold. This compromises the fruit's adherence to international quality standards and hinders its marketability.
Pepu emphasized that the challenges faced by the blueberry industry, including job losses and downsizing of companies or farms, are influenced by factors such as port delays and power cuts. The situation highlights the vulnerability of the industry and its economic impact.
Despite challenges, Elzette Schutte, manager at Berries ZA, noted that different weather patterns across the country have affected blueberry production, with flood issues in the Western Cape causing losses. However, she indicated that the ongoing blueberry season, which runs from June to January, has been fairly good overall.
Uzair Essack, a fruit exporter and managing director at Riyp, expressed optimism that South Africa will continue to produce good-quality blueberries, particularly due to favorable produce from the Western Cape. While challenges persist, industry stakeholders remain hopeful about the sector's resilience and potential for ongoing success.