The European market presents a challenge to the South African grape industry but one which has just emphasised again the importance of retail programmes, says Clayton Swart, Communications and Market Development Manager at the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI).

Widespread and prolonged rain over the eastern parts of South Africa has disrupted the Free State potato harvest, reducing supplies on the market and driving a consequent strong increase in price: over two days last week the daily average national price on a 10kg bag of potatoes rose by 43%.

Across the country the navel harvest has had a slow start and the industry is seeing bigger fruit (up to 60% of count 64 and larger) and a smaller crop. A poor start to the navel season could have a ripple effect on Valencias.

A very marketable crop of grapefruit, with a size distribution peaking on counts 40 and 45 and a higher percentage of class 1 exports over last year, will end earlier this season, which may cause some markets to run short of fruit.

Whereas usually Anlin Shipping doesn’t budget for vessels during April, this year three of their vessels have taken already 15,000 pallets over two and a half weeks to Rotterdam and St Petersburg of grapefruit, lemons, soft citrus, a bit of navels.

The impact of the unusual past few months on the fresh produce supply chain was discussed at last week’s PMA Fresh connections conference, in what has been a season that, amid the challenges, experienced increased overseas demand for many fresh commodities and export returns optimised by a weakening exchange rate.