The expansion of the South African blueberry takes the sector by surprise
The South African berry sector, although still a minority segment in both the local fruit and global sectors, has seen such vigorous growth in recent years that it has taken industry experts by surprise. Blueberry exports are expected to double this year to almost 4.500 tons, and the area cultivated with this fruit will do the same over the next five years.
Source: SABPA / Hortgro
The total production of blueberries last year exceeded the 3.000 tons, but this year will reach the 5.869 tons, according to a survey made to the members of the SABPA (South African Berry Producers' Association), with a participation of 94% of the blueberry producers.
"One of our successes during this period has been the registration of phytosanitary products", Add. This has been one of the factors that hampered this incipient sector: a series of products required by blueberries whose use was not yet approved in South Africa, and which are now available to the sector.
Another priority is to finalize the phytosanitary packages for an expected entry to the Far East markets. The distribution of last year's market (58% to the United Kingdom, 32% to the EU, 6% to Africa) will remain almost unchanged this year.
As the berry sector is still a negligible sector in South Africa, it must remain in the queue behind other more established fruit sectors, waiting for its turn to be the center of trade negotiations to enter the desirable markets of Extremo. East.
Tiaan Steyl, an independent producer of berries that does not market its fruit through one of the main groups of producers, believes that, as the sector matures, more producers will go free. "I think the future will be a little different. While now the big players get their berries from around the 90% of the producers, within 5 years they will do it from the 70% or the 80%" It emphasizes that belonging to a group of producers is best for beginners, but as the unlicensed genetic material can be accessed, the number of independent producers will increase.
Most of the cranberry expansion occurs in the north of the country, which is expected to tip the balance of production to the north, where most of the berries - blueberries, blackberries and raspberries - are currently grown. Western Cape and Southern Cape.
SABPA, a member of the International Blueberry Organization, represents not only the producers of blueberries, but also those of raspberries and blackberries; these last two fruits may lose market share in favor of a fruit crop with a much better shelf life and excellent export potential.
Source: Freshplaza.es
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