Deciduous fruit

Production areas

The main deciduous fruit producing areas of South Africa are the Western, Southern and Eastern Cape. In these areas warm, dry summers and cold winters prevail. The area producing deciduous fruit for fresh consumption during the 2000 season is estimated at 60 000 hectares and the area producing deciduous fruit for canning and dried fruit purposes is estimated at 15 000 hectares.

Production

Although some producers produce fruit for both canning and fresh consumption, it is estimated that there are about 2 500 producers of fruit for fresh consumption and about 1 000 producers for canned and dried fruit in the country. The production of deciduous fruit for 1999/2000 is estimated to be 1 461 054 tons, which is 76 802 tons or 5,5% more than in 1998/99. During the 1999/2000 season, plums and apricots reflected a decrease in production of 15 and 12% respectively. Apples reflected an increase of approximately 15%. The production of deciduous fruit showed an annual average growth of 4,6% during the period 1995/96 to 1999/2000.

The production per fruit type over the past five years compares as follows:

* Preliminary

Marketing

Both the local and export marketing of deciduous fruit are free from government intervention. The exporting of fruit is subject to compliance with certain quality requirements and obtaining a PPECB (Perishable Products Export Control Board) certificate.

When the industry was deregulated in the early 1990s, the single marketing channel for export was abolished. At present there are about 50 exporters selling South African fruit abroad. As a result, South African products are now competing against each other on the international market and this had an adverse effect on prices.

During the 1999/2000 marketing season, approximately 357 319 tons of deciduous fruit were sold locally on the 16 major fresh produce markets, other markets and direct to retailers, which was 23 390 tons more than during the 1998/99 season. Preliminary indications are that 635 816 tons of deciduous fruit were exported in 1999/2000. This figure is 23% higher than the figure for 1998/99.

During 1999/2000, deciduous fruit contributed approximately 25% to the gross value of horticultural production. The exporting of deciduous fruit is also a very important earner of foreign exchange for South Africa. During the 1999/2000 season, about 44% of deciduous fruit produced was exported and approximately 86% of gross value from deciduous fruit was earned in foreign exchange through exports.

The following graph indicates deciduous fruit export destinations during the 1999 season:  

The average prices of deciduous fruit on the 16 major fresh produce markets during the period 1995/96 to 1999/2000, are as follows:

Intake of deciduous fruit for processing

During 1999/2000, about 39% of deciduous fruit produced was taken in for processing—an increase of 7% compared to 1998/99. The following graph indicates deciduous fruit taken in for processing during 1999/2000:  
Over the past five years, all deciduous fruit types taken in for processing, with the exception of apples, which are mainly used for juices, were canned but more recently a large volume of pears were also used for juices. During 1999/2000, approximately 96% of apples taken in for processing was used for juices and 4% for canning, while 62% of pears was used for juices and 38% was canned. Producers received an average of R599 and R333 per ton for apples used for canning and for juices respectively. For pears used for canning and for juices, producers received an average of R362 and R164 per ton respectively. In the case of both peaches and apricots, approximately 93% was canned, while respectively 7 and 6% were used for juices. During 1999/2000, producers received an average of R985 and R531 per ton respectively for peaches and apricots taken in for canning.

Consumption

Per capita consumption and total consumption of deciduous fruit over the past five years, are as follows:

Dried fruit

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