CITRUS AND deciduous fruits (not subtropical fruits) are the only ones produced in the Western Cape and Fresh Produce Exporters' Forum CEO Stuart Symington says that although the province is home to some of the top growers making money through smart farming, there are unfortunately many middle of the road producers where areas of concern start to creep in regarding the export markets. • Middle of the road producers are often forced to give their not-so-good product to exporters due to little domestic demand (a small market but one nevertheless often overlooked by industry). • While not illegal, exporters sometimes have little choice but to accept a ‘mixed bag’ of fruit from a farmer – taking the good with the bad in order to be able to procure the good fruit. Sometimes this fruit finds its way out of the country as it is well nigh impossible for the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) to inspect every last carton of fruit that leaves the country. Symington says the Western Cape citrus industry has enjoyed “three satisfying years” but the grape industry in the Cape has taken strain for a variety of reasons. The struggle for the grape industry has been against unseasonal weather conditions, increasing competition in our traditional marketing windows in the European Union and a very strong rand. The erstwhile practice of airfreighting grapes has been discontinued due to prohibitive cost. The province’s grapes are now sent by sea which takes 12 days to reach the European market, considerably delaying entry into those markets in relation to airfreight – particularly for the pre-Christmas deliveries. Symington warns that times ahead are looking tough. “We are constantly tightening our belts as a result of input costs increasing, our overseas prices diminishing because of excess product on the market, increased competition and shipping rates which are climbing to unprecedented heights.
