Quality of SA fruit is a determining factor for increasing exports, and a coherent cold chain is required for maintaining that quality. An erratic power supply has the potential to reverse export progress, making the electrical generator the perishable shipper’s essential tool. “I think it’s the quality of fruit that is boosting exports, and refrigeration is making a big difference to the quality of fruit headed for the Far East, America and other markets,” said Dave Pretorius, director of Generator and Plant Hire SA. “Some companies stipulate that the cargo has to be refrigerated, and that’s where we come in. The export market is growing and growing, and we grow with it. We rent out a generator that fits under the truck that transports perishables. At the moment we are running 120-odd generators on trucks, up 20% from last year when we ran 85 units,” said Pretorius. Generator hire is seasonal, and depends on the fragility of a particular crop. “Grape season (in summer) is very good for us. November to the end of February is peak time. We are fully booked those months,” said Pretorius, while winter months bring citrus crops that can be less dependent on refrigeration. Back on the farm where the cold chain starts, growers also need consistent refrigeration for their harvested products at packing time. Back-up generators available for rental at GPHSA have an output from 20 KVA to 1000 KVA. Generators for purchase are available from 10 KVA to 2000 KVA. “We supply stand-by generators in case the power supply is unreliable. It’s very busy over the fruit season. But the season is so short that to purchase for just that period, the user finds it’s more profitable just to hire,” Pretorius said.
