In 2016 there was hail, last year there was drought but this year looks to be a shining year for South African avocados. An increase of 5 million or 5.5 million 4kg export cartons is expected from last year’s 11 million 4kg cartons and thus far, favourable weather conditions are pointing in the right direction.
The season is just kicking off in the warmer areas of Limpopo Province like Mooketsi and Levubu with Fuerte and Maluma, and the very first export consignments have left to reach the market in week 12. Early South African exports are primarily Fuerte. The South African harvest will get underway in all earnest by the beginning of March.
Last year sizing was a challenge, due to the drought, but ZZ2 is currently peaking at sizes 12 to 16, says Clive Garrett, ZZ2 marketing manager.
South African greenskinned avocados are primarily destined for Russia, Eastern and Southern European countries, but there, too, demand for Hass is growing.
Allesbeste Boerdery, the owners and developers of the Maluma avocado, are hosting their annual Maluma Day next week and international interest in the cultivar has never been as strong, as evidenced by the sizeable foreign contingent confirmed for this year’s event. In their area of Tzaneen, avocado harvesting could start towards the end of the week.
The South African avocado industry is waiting for bilateral negotiations on pears to conclude, for work to start on access for South African avocados to China. At present the bulk of South African avocados still go to the EU, a market which is growing at a brisk clip, not least because of the work done by the World Avocado Organisation in which South Africa and Peru are driving forces.
Source: Fresh Plaza
Koraal
Secretary:
Naomi Excell
E-Mail: admin@agrilimpopo.co.za
Tel : +27 (0) 15 307 2725
Tel : +27 (0) 15 307 3509
Weipe
Chairperson:
Pieter Esterhuyse
E-Mail: pieter@overvlakte.co.za
Cell: +27 (0) 83 653 4871
Loskop
Chairperson:
Danie van der Heever
E-Mail: danie@jfdfarms.co.za
Cell: +27 (0) 82 777 1246
Hoedspruit
Chairperson:
Flip Roodt
E-Mail: roodtpj@gmail.com
Cell : +27 (0) 82 493 4170
Bosveld
Chairperson
Cobus Coetzee
E-Mail: agribosveld@hotmail.com
Cell : +27 (0) 82 800 6287
Lephalale
Chairperson:
Douw Pelser
E-Mail: douw@trophysafaris.co.za
Cell : +27 (0) 82 302 3773
Agri Letaba DLU
Chairperson:
Pieter Vorster
E-mail: pieter@mahela.co.za
Cell : +27 (0) 83 259 5511
Nzelele
Chairperson:
Evert van Deventer
E-Mail: evert@maswiri.co.za
Cell: +27 (0) 78 638 4452
Ohrigstad
Chairperson:
Fritz Marx
E-Mail: OhrigstadBV@gmail.com
Cell: +27 (0) 82 946 2333
Springbokvlakte
Chairperson:
Andries Groothof
E-Mail: admin@adaja.co.za
Cell: +27 (0) 82 453 4366
Tuinplaas
Chairperson:
Karel Burger
E-Mail: burger.kr@gmail.com
Cell: +27 (0) 82 817 3967
Watervalsrivier
Alldays Boerevereniging
Chairperson:
HJ Smit
E-mail: hjsmitvervoer@gmail.com
Cell: +27 (0) 72 3979679
Linton
Chairperson
Schalk van der Walt
E-Mail: kongoms53@gmail.com
Cell: +27 (0) 83 367 6891