Blueberry exporters are looking at shipment alternatives in a bid to avoid airfreight capacity shortfalls that could compromise exports of South Africa’s bumper crop of the super food, said to be an expected 17 000 tonnes, according to reports.
With 60% of output originating in the Western Cape, fears are that a dearth of flights out of Cape Town International Airport and an increase of 70% in airfreight rates could erode volumes when the export season starts in September.
According to Sinesipho Tom of Food for Mzansi, export companies have begun to collaborate in an effort to manage costs.
“Some are now sharing road transport from the Western Cape to Gauteng in order to get the fresh fruit on cargo planes out of the country.”
The industry, which has created 4000 plus jobs according to the South African Berry Producers’ Association (SABPA), recorded figures of 634 tonnes and a yield of R133 million little over ten years ago.
However, since 2008, blueberry popularity among developed market consumers and their adaptability in a diverse range of agricultural settings, have driven the growth curve higher, subsequently also drawing more farmers and labourers into farming the fruit, says SABPA manager Elzette Schutte.
In 2018, that curve was still spiking, heralding 8000 tonnes and a yield of R1.05 billion.
Now, however, with Covid-19’s disrupting impact on ports and air cargo, the prospective 70% lion’s share of locally grown berries earmarked for the international market could go abegging unless freight alternatives are found.