Pomegranate exporters make healthy inroads

Global demand for environmentally friendly health fruits has led to an increase in exports of South African pomegranate, according to Sifiso Ntombela, a senior researcher at the National Agricultural Marketing Council. South Africa’s pomegranate exports have risen steadily since production first began in 2003, placing the country among the top ten exporters in the world, according to research undertaken by Ntombela. He said the short transit to the United Kingdom and European Union meant that there were more export opportunities for the fruit. The local pomegranate industry has its roots in the Western Cape through companies such as Citrogold, Premier Pomegranate Producer Cooperative, Alternafruit, Colors Fruit, Bonifruit and New World Fruit Ventures. Spain is the world’s largest exporter of pomegranates, followed by India and Iran. South Africa produces more pomegranate than Australia and Argentina. An average of 100 000-120 000 tons/ year is exported, Spain is the biggest exporter with 50 000 tons per year, India is the second largest with 33 400 tons a year and Iran the third largest with 15 000 tons per year. Since harvesting of the first crops in 2007, South Africa has become the seventh largest exporter of the product in the world with 4 000 tons a year.