South African fruit exporters could gain greater flexibility in managing export programmes following the commissioning of a new controlled-atmosphere cold-storage facility that allows fruit to be stored for up to 14 months while maintaining quality.
Betko Fresh Produce, in partnership with refrigeration technology supplier GEA, commissioned the new facility at its Sunnyside farm near Villiersdorp in the Western Cape. The controlled-atmosphere store extends storage times from the traditional six to seven months to up to 14 months, enabling exporters to better align shipments with international demand and extend marketing windows. The longer storage period also reduces pressure to move produce immediately after harvest, giving exporters greater flexibility in planning worldwide distribution, Betko says.
The company exports about 65 000 tonnes of apples and pears annually to markets across Africa, Asia, Europe and the UK.
The installation increases processing capacity by around 50 000 fruit bins a year. During its first season of operation, the facility processed more than 37 000 bins, exceeding its initial design capacity, according to Betko.
The infrastructure has also been designed to accommodate a second expansion phase, allowing additional storage capacity to be added as export volumes grow.
Energy efficiency was another key focus of the project. As electricity is one of the largest operating costs associated with long-term cold storage, the refrigeration system has been designed to reduce peak electricity demand by about 20%, Betko says.
