South Africa’s raisin industry has set itself an ambitious target.
Having produced a record crop of 75 000 tonnes last year, the industry’s new goal is 100 000 tonnes in the next few years.
And a significant focus for industry body Raisins South Africa is an increase in exports to the UK and Asia.
“The UK is the largest global importer of dried fruit, buying around 106 000 tonnes every year. South Africa has a modest share of this with exports to the UK of just 4 000 tonnes,” a spokesman said.
South African raisins are produced in the Orange and Olifants river regions in the Northern and Western Cape, with the Northern Cape Province producing at least 90% of the total annual production and the Western Cape the remaining 10%. – Zoë van Rooyen
