High hopes for the Hex River Crimson harvest
The heavy rain last week in the Northern Cape has reduced the estimate for the Orange River region by two to three million 4.5kg equivalent cartons, bringing down the total of table grape exports from South Africa for the 2020/21 season to between 61,7 and 67,1 million 4.5kg cartons, compared to 66,15 million cartons last season.
In the Orange River the crop is now expected to come to 15 to 16 million 4.5kg equivalent cartons.
New SATI chairperson Anton Viljoen Jr, taking over the role in November 2020 (photo supplied by SATI)
The ability of the South African table grape industry to absorb risk as a result of its geographical diversity is again demonstrated this year, the South African Table Grape Industry notes in its second crop estimate, as the mid to late season Olifants River, Berg River and Hex River regions in the Western Cape are expected to make up for the volumes lost.