Blueberry production in southern Africa continues to grow, with South African growers in the north and in neighboring countries expanding production. However, the business will be dominated for some time by production in the Western Cape.

Recent reports indicate that production areas in Zambia and northern Namibia are increasing, while Limpopo in northern South Africa provides a boost to early production.

Recently, Zambia has been granted access to China, the first southern African nation to do so. This is a great envy of South African growers who have been looking to expand in the East for their growing production.

Zambian and Namibian production, along with northern parts of South Africa, mature from March and April, about five months before harvest in the Western Cape, which has so far seen the bulk of South African production. .

Early production from South Africa is sold primarily on the local market, with some air exports to the Middle East and other parts of the East. Exports to Europe only really start from August once European supplies start to decline.

However, this year is not a normal year and the limited air freight has caused most exporters to Europe to focus their activities firmly on exports by sea.

Although South Africa will ease its restrictions on air travel starting in October, a dramatic increase in available air cargo is unlikely immediately.

Cape growers, at this stage, have to transport their fruit more than 1.600 kilometers to Johannesburg, where air transport space is also limited.

They will soon have to compete for space with the early summer stone fruit from the north. Experts say the long-term future for the rapidly expanding berry business lies firmly in the field of marine exports.

A smaller early harvest in northern South Africa, 5-10% less than expected, meant there was less pressure on both air transport and the local market.

While Zambia's blueberry production is still relatively small, and Rundu's in the Kavango-East region of northern Namibia is only in its second year, growers and exporters in both countries have challenges of their own. .

Zambia is a landlocked country and it appears that your only option to reach export markets would be through South African ports. For Zambia, this would mean road transport from the growing region near Lusaka through Zimbabwe and through South Africa to Durban or Cape Town.

They may also eventually move their fruit through northern Botswana and through the Caprivi strip in Namibia to the port of Walvis Bay, where container feed services will be available.

Observers have said that Zambia does not have a protocol for entering the lucrative South African market, leaving exports the only option.

While it has been given access to China, it is unclear if all the hurdles in terms of protocols have yet been overcome. This may take some time.

The South African sources, who believe access to China is vital for their rapidly developing business, are under no illusions that it will be a quick fix. "Judging by the experience of other industries in South Africa, this could easily take six to seven years before we even get close to access."

Now that Polish blueberries have more or less been shipped to Europe, South African exporters are focusing on their ocean shipments to fill the gap on supermarket shelves.

On the other hand, Polish blueberries, which were seen on South African produce shelves in the past during June, July and August, are now totally absent.

It reflects the rapidly changing production trends, which are also seen in the avocado business, allowing South Africa to become self-sufficient in both products.