Table grape industry set for record year
The Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, welcomed the news that the South African Table Grape Industry reached a total intake for the 2020/2021 season of 73 million cartons. This is significantly more than the 66.15 million cartons recorded last year.
Meyer: This is great news for the Western Cape. The current pandemic has led to an increased demand for healthy foods worldwide, causing further increased demands for fresh fruit and vegetables. Greater market access and an increase in exports will lead to an increase in jobs .
Packing is finishing this week in the Hex River region. According to SATI CEO Willem Bestbier, the good intake volumes are welcome amidst a challenging year locally and globally due to Covid-19 and several lockdowns in most countries.