FRUIT PRODUCERS will receive R1,4bn in payouts from Unifruco, the statutory marketing body for the fruit industry.
Unifruco chairman David Gant said at the release of the organisation's results last week that exports had risen 17% over the previous year. This was partly as a result of tight cost control and the weakening rand. Total export volumes had dropped slightly over the previous year to 50,5m cartons, he said.
Gant said the season was disappointing, with a number of regions unable to provide their usual crop.
Gant said Unifruco was prepared for deregulation, after Agriculture Minister Derek Hanekom said last week Government was determined to end the monopoly of state-controlled marketing bodies.
Unifruco accepts the desire of a small number of growers to opt out of a uniform marketing scheme, he said. But we remain confident that at least 90% of the growers will continue to use their wholly owned marketing organisation. However, he criticised Hanekom's hostile attitude to single-channel marketing. Hanekom had little understanding, and gave little support, to the industry, he said.
Unifruco m.d. Louis Kriel said the organisation's European partners planned to invest more than R500m in port facilities.
Kriel said the future for deciduous fruit exports was good. Improved stock, cost savings and quality control had enhanced the marketability of South African fruit.
