SOUTH AFRICAN FYNBOS IN NUMBERS

Karien Bezuidenhout, general manager of Cape Flora SA, says the top five export markets for fynbos are: EU (67%), Far

East (18%), Middle East (6%), US (4%), UK, Canada, South America (all less than 1%).

“Locally we estimate that about 4,6 million stems of protea, 1,7 million stems of pincushions and four million stems of greens were sold in 2022. But as this is the first time we’ve gathered data for the local market, this is a rough estimate. Woolworths was the first retailer to test fynbos cut flowers on the local market many years ago, but these days all of the well-known retailers support the indigenous flower industry. The Multiflora market in Johannesburg also trades indigenous flora, but it consists of only 5,6% of their total sales. Fynbos cut flowers is a niche product when compared to other cut flowers such as roses and chrysanthemums,” she says.

“In terms of production areas, fynbos is quite area-specific, therefore growers select varieties suited to their climate and soil conditions. One large grower in the Eastern Cape grows predominantly king proteas (approximately 120ha) as they do very well there. Another large enterprise on the West Coast grows Geraldton Wax because it is well suited to the warm, sandy soils. The Queen protea (P. barbigera) prefers the climate on top of the Groot Winterhoekberge mountains at Porterville and therefore most of the production is located there. The entire industry has about 1 100ha under production and, as mentioned earlier, the biggest single farm spans 120ha. The three biggest producers together cultivate about 250ha.”

Cape Flora says in terms of export logistics, as not all the fynbos cut-flower products are suitable for sea freight, only certain products are sent by sea and only during the peak season from September to December. About 75% of the product is airfreighted and 25% is shipped.