While recent hailstorms have hit apple and pear harvests in the Ceres and Langkloof regions, industry sources indicate exporters will still meet their overseas commitments
While there has been extensive damage to the South African apple and pear harvest due to recent storms, there are indications that growers will still be able to meet their export commitments.
If all turns out well, the apple export crop will still be slightly higher than last year, although the pear harvest is set to come in 11 per cent lower.
The hailstorms struck two major apple and pear growing regions, Ceres and the Langkloof, ten days ago.
It is expected that the South African apple harvest will now reach just over 49mn cartons and pears 20.5mn cartons.
Bigbucks, which is packed under the Flash Gala brand, will be down by 9 per cent this year.
All pear categories are affected – with the total harvest being some 2.4mn cartons below the initial forecast.
Sources have indicated that there could be further adjustments later, but in general, South African apple exporters will still be able to meet the requirements of their receivers.
It emerged that the damage in the Langkloof, for both apples and pears, is higher than in Ceres.
It is also revealed by some exporters that their volumes could be more affected than others.
Meanwhile, table grape industry body Sati is maintaining its initial estimate, saying it is too early to comment on reports that the late region, the Hex River Valley, has also been affected by rain.
“The South African Table Grape Industry confirms that, despite some regional variation, the national crop estimate for the 2025/26 season remains unchanged at at 79.4mn 4.5kg cartons inspected for export,” it stated.
”The season is progressing well, with three of the five production regions largely concluded and meeting regional estimates.”
“Warm temperatures early in the season have resulted in certain cultivars being harvested 10 to 14 days earlier than usual, and the industry now anticipates that this year’s harvest will finish earlier than the previous season,” it concluded.
