Fruit export season brings cautious optimism

Ray Smuts CAPE FRUIT farmers may be coming in from the cold after five bitter winters but the chill is certainly not over. The lot of many farmers has improved due in the main to good rain, an encouraging growing season and a weak rand. This has led to many farms actually being withdrawn from the market, though it must be said that two of the biggest farms which went into liquidation in the Elgin district last year are still for sale. The deteriorating rand means that less successful growers are still struggling, faced with costly items such as cartons - up in price by 20% this year - shipping fees, operating costs and the rest. This year's crop can certainly not be described as bumper but it is of quality, says Capespan chairman Dr Paul Cluver who remains cautiously optimistic at the current situation, adding it would be unrealistic to suggest the turnabout will be massive. Capespan m.d. Neil Oosthuizen who is completing his first full production year at the helm, reiterates the company's goal of becoming truly global by being well placed to supply its clients with a full fruit basket for 12 months of the year. This he believes should be backed up by the strongest trade brands in the world of which the marketer already possesses two, Cape for deciduous and Outspan for citrus. Oosthuizen says Capespan has committed itself to obtaining exclusivity on future cultivars intended for international markets including three new citrus cultivars that will be exported before year end.