In the packhouse of 20,000 square meters on the farm Lushof in Prince Alfred Hamlet, one of three farms owned by Graaff Fruit, this is the busiest time of the year: they expect over 8,000 tonnes of nectarines to roll over the pack lines this season, while bins of pears and apples have also started coming in.
Between 120 and 130 varieties of stone and pome fruit (nectarines mostly, but also 1,200 tonnes of plums, 1,600 tonnes of dessert peaches, and a smattering of apricots) are packed here from October until March. The packhouse takes in 11,000 tonnes of apples and just under 11,000 tonnes of pears, keeping the packhouse busy for all but three weeks of the year.
Over the season between 33,000 and 34,000 tonnes of fruit are packed here for the stone fruit and pome fruit grower-exporter. Stone fruit is his favourite, says MR du Toit, packhouse manager. "We love packing stone fruit. I couldn't work in a packhouse that only packed pome fruit."
Stone fruit is a high-risk, fast game. "From receiving the stone fruit to loading it out, we aim to keep it within seven days. Then another twenty days' sailing time to Europe, and we're already on four weeks, plus a shelf life of another week."
On the ston efruit side, the main overseas recipients are still in Europe, but the demand from the Middle East (for larger counts) as well as the prices offered by Gulf States outstrip UK demand and prices at certain periods. England traditionally looks for small counts. Fortunately, he notes, trees generally provide both.
"For the domestic market, we can hold some stone fruit back for up to 6 weeks. Hopefully, the price will rise during this time and the quality will stay good. Most of the seasons it benefits the growers and the customers."
"I couldn't work in a packhouse that only packed pome fruit," says MR du Toit, here in his element
Big improvement in stone fruit over past 20 years
Graaff Fruit keeps abreast of international cultivar development and holds exclusive licenses for Buffat in South Africa and the USA. Fifty to sixty percent of the stone fruit they grow is exported and marketed in full by Delecta, in which Robert Graaff, scion of the Graaff family, is the main shareholder.
Du Toit has been with the Graaff family for more than twenty years, a period during which, he says, fruit has become tastier, and sweeter with better colouring and better traveling capabilities. "It's been a big improvement."
The packhouse has been taking in more fruit from external growers to arrive at a current ratio of 60:40 own production to external production: all stone fruit (except cherries) and pome fruit can be packed there. Recent investments into new pack lines and sorting equipment will in coming years be complemented by further developments, Du Toit says.
The current Controlled Atmosphere capacity is 14,500 bins on site with a further 14,500 bins rented in Ceres, but more is needed. "We also need to extend our forced cooling capacity (certain markets require cold steri), pallet holding capacity and packing material shed."
He cites their new carton folding machine as an example of increased efficiency: the previous machine folded 900 cartons per hour, employing six people to put the folded cartons away. A new machine folds 2,300 boxes per hour and employs only three people. "The carton we use here uses less paper so there is a saving as well. Because we fold faster we can carry less stock. That's how we become more efficient."
Local retailer elevates its stone fruit category
While Delecta handles all exports, Graaff Fruit is a well-recognized name in the local fruit market, and the company has been a mainstay of stone fruit supply to South African retailers like Woolworths, Freshmark (supplying Shoprite Checkers), and various other retailers.
He singles out Woolworths' particular interest in the stone fruit category which Graaff Fruit has been packing for the retailer in a separate little packhouse within the larger building for the past twenty years. They also ripen stone and pome fruit for Woolworths.
"Woolworths is the only customer that visits us weekly and our Woolworths account manager sets out everything that will be ripe in a week's time and they'll come and taste. Only after tasting the fruit do they choose varieties for their premium Flavourburst lines and varieties for their value lines. And they don't mind fruit that's a bit scruffy," he points out.
"Something like sugar spots which are not always wanted in export fruit – Woolworths are happy to take that fruit if the taste is good."
Once a week the packhouse offers staff fruit to take home. Around 330 people work in the packhouse during peak periods which mean long days, from 07:00 until 17:30 or, when there are many orders to be filled, until 20:00 in the evening.
Bins arriving from the orchards
For more information:
MR du Toit
Graaff Fruit
Tel: +27 83 564 3564
https://graaff-fruit.com/