The production of apples, pears and table grapes is forecast to continue its growth in the 2021/22 MY, based on normal weather conditions, new areas coming into production and high yielding varieties.
South Africa is self-sufficient and only imports small quantities of deciduous fruits to fulfill niche markets or to satisfy demand during the off-season when supply is limited. Due to phytosanitary restrictions, the United States only has limited market access to export apples from areas that are free of Rhagoletis pomonella (apple maggot). Negotiations are on-going to expand this market access to include areas regulated for apple maggot in the United States.
Fresh pears - Area planted
The area planted with pears has expanded since the 2010/11 MY. Expansion is being driven by high earnings from the export market and better returns, which continues to attract investment into the fruit sector.
The drop in the 2016/17 MY was mainly due to the drought, and measures some farmers took in removing old orchards to better manage water. The area planted to pears is forecast to marginally rise by 1 percent to 13,000 hectares in the 2021/22 MY, from 12,913 hectares in the 2020/21 MY, based on new plantings and industry’s response to modest growth in demand. Pears compete with apples, hence the growth in area planted has been stable but typically lower than the more lucrative apple farming.
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Source: apps.fas.usda.gov
