Frost damage in the Vaalharts regions of South Africa last month has caused about 20 per cent losses to the apricot crop, according to the country's largest exporter Capespan.
Super Gold was he most affected variety. Peaches and nectarines are only grown in small volumes in the area, but nevertheless some growers saw a large percentage of their crops wiped out. Plums escaped unscathed as they were still in the dormant stage.
"The first Super Gold should be harvested around the beginning of November," said Capespan procurement director Martin Dunnett. "Mayglo and Fiesta Red nectarines should be in the UK by the sea freight in the middle of November.
The start date is more or less in line with a normal season, although Dunnett warns that there could be problems with irrigation this season. "There is an issue with water in the Cape as dams are not as full as they should be at this time of year," he said. "This would affect volumes from the Western Cape."
He reported that May Glo in the area is of good size already and plums have finished flowering and are in the fruit-set stage.
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