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SATI expects healthy table grape crop
The South African Table Grape Industry( SATI) released the final crop estimate for the 2016 / 17 table grape season, stating that very favourable weather conditions, especially during harvesting, is contributing towards an expected healthy crop of about 65 million cartons.
SATI is happy that the local table grape industry is in a favourable position, especially after last year’ s drought and hot weather.
The industry body cautions however, that table grapes are grown under blue skies therefore it is better to view this year’ s harvest in the context of the 3.7 % average compound growth rate over five years( calculated to include this year’ s crop). SATI says this year’ s harvest does not show a huge increase but rather reflects a return to the normal growth pattern of the local table grape industry.
Conditions were much more favourable and the best seen in many years with very little to no rain in most of the five production areas during the crucial harvesting period. While there were hot days, the nights were cooler, which aided colour development in red and black varieties. This contributed to a return to normal berry size and weight and even better quality and taste, a hallmark of South African table grapes.
The bulk of the crop and large volumes have already been harvested and exported. SATI is expecting normal volumes for the remainder of the South African table grape harvesting season.
The Northern province region completed harvesting and ended on 5.5 million cartons. The Orange River region,
Table: 2016 / 17 Final crop estimate in 4.5kg carton equivalents( millions)
REGIONS
2016 / 2017 FINAL CROP ESTIMATE one of the largest table grape production regions, ended on 20.5 million cartons.
The Olifants River region is almost done with packing and is expected to end with about four million cartons. Harvesting in the Berg River region will continue for a few more weeks while this region is expected to end on about 14.9 million cartons. The Hex River region, which is still experiencing good
2016 / 2017 SECOND CROP ESTIMATE
2016 / 2017 FIRST CROP ESTIMATE
ACTUAL PACKED VOLUMES
Low High Low High 2015 / 2016 2014 / 2015
NORTHERN PROVINCES |
5,5 |
5,3 |
5,2 |
5,5 |
4,7 |
4,5 |
ORANGE RIVER |
20,5 |
20,3 |
18,7 |
19,2 |
18,6 |
17,6 |
OLIFANTS RIVER |
4,0 |
4,2 |
4,2 |
4,4 |
3,4 |
3,8 |
BERG RIVER |
14,9 |
13,3 |
13,8 |
13,3 |
13,8 |
12,6 |
13,1 |
HEX RIVER |
20,5 |
19,7 |
20,2 |
19,7 |
20,2 |
18,8 |
20,3 |
GRAND TOTAL |
65,4 |
62,8 |
63,8 |
61,1 |
63,1 |
58,1 |
59,3 |
weather, is expected to end on about 20.5 million cartons.
As indicated in the second crop estimate of 2 February 2017 very favourable weather conditions, normal berry and bunch development coupled with new generation varieties that provide a better yield and pack out are the main drivers of this year’ s healthy South African table grape crop. CLA
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