Good apple and pear season, despite challenges

Both the apple and pear marketing seasons have had their share of challenges, specifically on the logistical side, with a lack of available reefer containers and vessels to certain export markets, as well as delays in the Port of Cape Town.

This was according to Nina Viljoen, economist at Hortgro, who said the fruit would be packed from controlledatmosphere, long-term cold-storage rooms in packhouses across the Western Cape for the remainder of the year.

Viljoen said total apple production for 2021 was estimated at 1,05 million tons, up from 991 000t in 2020, or a 10% increase, while total pear production was 455 000t, up from 438 000t last year.

She said the increase in production was due to new orchards coming into production and good 2020 winter rainfall and fair weather, which had resulted in good fruit set. “A moderate summer also had a positive impact on the packouts, resulting in apple exports estimated to be up 9% year-on-year (y/y).”

Viljoen said 45% of South Africa’s apple production was exported, while 50% of pears were exported. By week 24 of 2021, 20 million 12,5kg-equivalent cartons of apples had been exported (a 29% increase y/y), and 11,5 million 12,5kg-equivalent cartons of pears had been exported, a 6% increase y/y.

She added that 31% of the apples had been exported to Asia, 21% to Africa, 10% to the Middle East, 18% to the UK, 8% to Europe, 2% to Indian Ocean islands, 1% to the US and Canada, and 9% to Russia.

Meanwhile, 33% of all pear exports had gone to Europe, 17% to Asia, 18% to the Middle East, 7% to the UK, 3% to Africa, 4% to the US and Canada, 1% to the Indian Ocean Islands, and 18% to Russia.

“There are different marketing windows for different times of the year. As exports to the EU and the UK start to decline now due to their own production hitting the market soon, Africa and Asia will hopefully stay strong. Annually, these two markets closely compete for the top spot for apple exports.”

Nic Dicey, a pear farmer and chairperson of Hortgro Pome, said that, overall, the season had gone very well, with good-quality pears and apples having had an uptick in volume this season.

“Although local demand for pears is steady, the focus is on the export market,” he added. – Pieter Dempsey