The 2024 blueberry campaign in Southern Africa has gone well, with a focus on quality, and the 2024/25 table grape campaign in South Africa is looking promising, according to Kobus du Plessis, commercial director of exporter Angon Fruit. “Overall, the blueberry campaign in Southern Africa has gone well so far. The harvest in Peru was delayed, which offered a good market for Southern Africa until the end of October, after which the markets stabilised in November and December,” he notes.

Du Plessis says the campaign started well in Zimbabwe and South Africa. “Prices for the first fruits of the season were strong, with good gains due to shortages as Peru arrived late. South Africa reached the peak of its harvest in week 44, at the end of October. Prices stabilised in November at levels similar to those of the 2023 season, while from August to October they were 15-20% higher year-on-year. This was due to the peak volume of arrivals from Peru to the market, which shifted to November and December.”

Angon Fruit’s earliest supply is from Zimbabwe, says Du Plessis. “It offers very good quality blueberries which Angon exports to Asia. South African supplies started from week 34, first from the north in areas such as Lydenburg and Groblersdal. Then Pietermaritzburg and Langkloof. Later, supplies started to arrive from the Western Cape, from areas such as Wolseley, Wellington, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Worcester and Slanghoek. So far the quality has been good, with most growers meeting their crop estimates and some reporting yields 10% below their estimates. Overall, the quality on arrival at the markets is good.”

The blueberry market

“For blueberries, we are primarily focused on the UK, Europe and South East Asia, with Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Cambodia being key markets in that region. The market is split 70% between the UK and Europe and 30% in the East,” says Du Plessis.

South Africa to host IBO Summit 2025

Angon Fruit is looking forward to the International Blueberry Organisation (IBO) Summit 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa, in late 2025. “This is exciting for the Southern African sector, especially South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, which shows good growth potential. We look forward to meeting growers, buyers and industry experts from a variety of supplying regions and markets around the world,” says Du Plessis.

Table grape campaign

Angon Fruit is a fourth generation Paarl-based exporter and table grape grower. “We are excited about the upcoming table grape season. I don’t think it will be a bumper year. Our growers in Trawal, Berg and Hex River are expecting average to normal yields. Right now the fruit looks healthy and the berries are expected to be good size and the market will be favourable. We are looking forward to seeing what the berry weight will be and how much fruit is suitable for sale. Overall, the quality of South African grapes in the early areas of Orange River and Groblersdal has been good so far. The season is a week behind schedule overall,” explains Du Plessis.

Angon's table grape market differs slightly from that of blueberries, although the customers are the same. "We focus mainly on the UK, Europe, Asia, Israel and the US, with an estimated supply of 40% per year." retail from the United Kingdom, from 30% to retail and the wholesale market in Europe, focusing on the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and Spain, as well as Eastern Europe. We consider both sales channels in Europe to offer good value for money. We have put the focus back on the retail "The American market is becoming increasingly important in diversifying our markets. The United States has finished the season early and has therefore shown renewed interest in South African products," says Du Plessis.

His focus is on Israel and Asian markets such as Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan. “Our market share is 40% UK, 30% Europe, 15% Asia, 15% Israel and the US, and Canada is an interesting market that we want to develop,” he concludes.