Saphir on stage in Cape Town

Saphir on stage in Cape Town

Nicholas Saphir believes that the fresh produce industry will see a growth in production between now and 2010, but it will be slower than in the 1990s.

Success will depend on conflicting attributes flexibility versus scale and innovation versus risk management. Saphir made his comments at the Eurofruit Southern Hemisphere conference held in Cape Town last week.

Global consumption of fresh fruit continues to grow but growth is patchy, by market and by region. Saphir said there have been many changes across the 15 states of the European Union. “Supermarkets are focusing on low prices. Apples and oranges are losing out and grapes, stonefruit, exotics all gaining ground. More importantly, prepared food is playing a bigger role and eating out now makes up 30 per cent of the food spend and continues to grow.”

However, he added that the new EU 10 will benefit southern hemisphere exporters. He said: “The EU population will grow from 380 million to 455 million and economic growth will result in more imports.”

Elsewhere, the US is seeing a rise in prepared food and Saphir believes there is the potential of a bigger market for exporters if non-tariff barriers reduce.