The South African grape harvest is likely to be much shorter than was initially forecast, according to Capespan’s Deon Joubert.
The weather in the major growing regions has been less than conducive to a high volume crop and excessive heat in the last three weeks has added to early problems.
Estimates have fallen from 54 million cartons to 42m cartons. “Even that could be on the conservative side,” said Joubert this week.
He expects the Orange River to be down from 17m to 14m cartons, the Berg River to decline by around 25 per cent on its 14m carton projection and the Hex River Valley to drop significantly from its 17m carton estimate. “If they do more than 13m cartons, I’d be surprised,” he said.
Grower Peu Bezuidenhout, chairman of the Cape Grape Trust added: “It is very dry generally and there is a big issue with berry size. In a good season, average berry size is around 18-19mm, but this year we are down in the 17mm region. There was a good yield last year and that is often followed by a smaller yield. There are not enough shouldery bunches and the weight of the crop depends on larger bunches - normally there are 70 per cent large bunches, this season that is down to around 10 per cent.
“There are the same amount of bunches on the vines, so we are having to do the same amount of work for less effective weight.”
The drought conditions in some areas are also causing colour problems. Nor have sugar levels materialised as growers had hoped.
“None of this has a major effect on the UK market,” said Joubert. “We will all be close to our programmes. It is not looking like a good season financially though, as the rand is too strong and the price wars hit hard, as programmes were set assuming we would be supplying big volumes.”
Meanwhile, the first sendings of South African Williams pears have arrived in the UK and are due in store at the major multiples next week.
However drought conditions in the northern area of the western Cape are threatening to have an affect on top-fruit size in general, it is reported.
The Elgin and Ceres areas have been particularly hard hit by the lack of rainfall, nevertheless the season is beginning in line with a normal start.
The UK is expected to see greater quantities of blush pears as they were so well received last season.
Forelle particularly is up in volume and South African growers are becoming increasingly aware they have a definite niche in Europe for Forelle and Rosemarie.
Meanwhile, the dry conditions have boosted sugar levels in plums and volumes are coming through as forecast.
