This Q&A options highlights from an interview completed with Dane Fortress, Blueberry Technical Gross sales Supervisor Southern Africa at Planasa, who discusses the state of the Southern Africa blueberry season. For the complete interview and charts, go to FreshFruitPortal.com.
May you share insights into the anticipated quantity and high quality of the 2024 Southern African Blueberry season?
Southern Africa is understood for its high-quality produce, and we count on this season to be no completely different. The Western Cape appears to be operating a little bit earlier this yr, probably by about 4 to 6 weeks. However with the winter solely setting in now, it’s nonetheless too early to inform.
Within the north, the amount may arrive a bit later, much like final yr. This delay is primarily because of the older genetic varieties planted there, much like these in Peru. Blueberries from this space are anticipated to reach two to a few weeks later. We anticipate round 25,000 tonnes of fine high quality produce because the winter has now set in.
Reasonable to heat days with chilly evenings are essential for sustaining high quality, and that’s what Southern Africa is understood for. We see these circumstances occurring this season, which bodes properly for the standard of our produce.
What have been and are the challenges of this 2024 season?
The most important problem for South Africa, and Southern Africa normally, in the intervening time is logistics, significantly sea freight. Our harbors, particularly Durban Harbour and Cape City Harbour, have been rated as very poor, working at solely 20 to 30% of their potential effectivity. This causes vital delays and poses an enormous danger to each high quality of the product and efficiency available in the market.
Our ports are fully state-owned, which is a problem for the whole contemporary export business, not only for blueberries. The business is advocating for extra non-public partnerships to permit for funding in coaching, hiring extra staff, buying higher equipment, and in the end establishing a extra environment friendly system to expedite exports from South Africa.
Presently, a lot of the business depends on air freight, significantly early within the season. The most important challenges with air freight are availability and value. Many exporters are promoting premium jumbo fruit, permitting them to justify the excessive air freight prices. Final yr, on account of excessive demand for air freight, virtually all the things was shipped this manner—most likely 90% of the exports, even to Europe.
What are the alternatives of this 2024 season?
Peru’s shifting manufacturing schedule creates vital potential for our market. Usually, about 50% of Peru’s manufacturing happens in September and October. Nonetheless, the height is now shifting extra in direction of October-November, with solely about 30 to 40% of the full quantity throughout that interval. Moreover, one other 30% of the full quantity is anticipated in December-January. This shift advantages South Africa as a result of most of our early rising areas purpose to finish their harvest by September-October with a premium crop, making certain they continue to be aggressive regardless of Peru’s later peak.
The Netherlands and the UK have traditionally been the principle importers of Southern African blueberries. How do you see this evolving within the coming years?
When the blueberry business began in South Africa, it was principally dominated by Berry World, which has a powerful connection to the UK. Consequently, a good portion of our hectares was planted with Berry World varieties, primarily provided to the UK. So long as Berry World stays a key participant, the UK will proceed to be one among our primary locations. The UK acknowledges the prime quality of blueberries from South Africa and Southern Africa, constantly seeking to our area for his or her premium sector. Some retailers are already searching for premium varieties from us for about 30% of their shelf house. Whereas a great portion of their provide comes from Peru, they usually flip to Southern Africa for top-tier blueberries.
What do you suppose are the aggressive benefits of Southern African blueberries for the export market, particularly as in comparison with different nations from the Southern Hemisphere reminiscent of Perú?
The most important benefit Southern African blueberries have over Peru is twofold: our timing and our high quality.
Extra growers are planting within the northern components of South Africa. Consequently, we can have more and more earlier fruit from Could onwards. [But] it’s clear that Peru will stay the dominant participant within the commodity market on account of their huge hectares and excessive quantity. Competing in opposition to their scale is unrealistic except we considerably improve our personal hectares, which is a fancy endeavor.
Subsequently, we should always permit Peru to dominate the commodity market whereas Southern Africa focuses on the premium market. Our emphasis on high quality is our greatest benefit and driving issue. Sustaining this focus will proceed to set us aside and guarantee our success within the premium sector.
We’re fairly updated with the alternative of types and the introduction of latest premium genetics in Southern Africa. This has given us a definite benefit in supplying premium varieties to retailers in Europe, the UK, and even the Center East. Consequently, the competitors with Peru is now virtually negligible. The market has acknowledged this, and we’re strategically specializing in sustaining this edge. The demand for premium blueberries is anticipated to extend. As time goes by, the consumption of blueberries will proceed to rise. So there’s no stress or fear about stagnation within the blueberry market.
