South African apple and pear growers may differ from their Australian counterparts in production costs and market orientation, but both share the goal of improving yield, quality, and returns. For 21 Australian and international growers and industry professionals, the 2025 Future Orchards International Tour offered a valuable opportunity to visit orchards, nurseries, and packhouses across three regions of South Africa in early June, exchanging knowledge and ideas with local growers.
An overview from industry body Hortgro revealed that South Africa's pome and stone fruit sector includes 1,155 growers producing 2.1 million tonnes from 54,271 hectares, averaging 40 tonnes per hectare. Unlike Australia, which exports less than 1% of fresh apples and around 6% of pears, South Africa exports 40% of its fresh production to 86 countries, generating 90% of its income from fresh sales. Key export markets include the EU, Far East Asia, and Africa, with additional trade to the UK, the Middle East, and Russia.
This export focus brings challenges related to chemical use and market access. The tour highlighted low-chill production, canopy management, container tree production, and regenerative practices. It also fostered global connections, with participants from the UK, Türkiye, Mexico, India, and New Zealand joining the exchange.
The tour covered the Elgin, Grabouw, Vyeboom, and Villiersdorp (EGVV), Langkloof, and Koue Bokkeveld regions, where chill units range from 500 to 1,500. Rest-breaking treatments are needed in some areas, and water scarcity is an issue in others. Common growing systems included spindle and Bibaum 2D in newer plantings. Mounding was used to address drainage, and spacings of 3.5 x 1.5m were standard. Geneva G.778 rootstock is popular for its high productivity, although vigour remains a management challenge, as noted by grower Justin Mudge at Chiltern Farms.
Labour costs, at $25–30/day, are far lower than in Australia, allowing more labour-intensive practices, though supervision adds to expenses. Labour accounts for about 35% of total costs, and many growers spoke about the social responsibility of employing in a country with 35% unemployment.
The tour included Lorraine Farm (ZZ2), where Hendrik Pohl demonstrated regenerative techniques such as inter-row cover cropping, composting, and reduced chemical use. At Cape Sweet Nursery, tree production focuses on bench and green grafting onto tissue-cultured rootstocks to yield hardy trees within 22 months.
At Fruitways, which manages 1,250 hectares and packs 125,000 tonnes annually, the focus is on Class 1 tonnage and rapid productivity. Strategies include rootstock selection, canopy manipulation, and detailed post-bloom pruning to manage basal dominance and sunburn challenges.
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For more information:
Alison Barber
Apple and Pear Australia
Tel: +64 03 9329 3511
Email: [email protected]
www.apal.org.au
