© TFFGSAThe Fruit Farm Group South Africa kicks off its year alphabetically, with Avocados and Apples."We want customers to be used to buying avocados every week," says Trevor Dukes, CEO: 30% to 35% of the avocados they handle stay in the country.
"We don't want avocados to become a luxury. We pack fruit into Christmas time and January. When there is a definite shortage, like this year, because demand outstrips local supply, we fill the gap and import fruit from Kenya and Tanzania in January."
Imports from East Africa to South Africa are very limited, he says. They can't buy in bulk and the lead-time for the fruit coming by road from makes it difficult to quickly react. "In hindsight we could've brought in more but it was too late to procure more when the market was short. We had to optimize what we had."
By February the Limpopo avocado harvest starts. Intermittent rain caused irregularities in maturity across different microclimates and they weren't initially able to ship out as much as they wanted. Weather conditions have since improved, allowing more fruit to be packed. There is a higher than usual percentage of small fruit.
Europe first, Asia later
"In Europe, there's still some stock from Spain and Israel. Retailers have predominantly shifted to the Southern Hemisphere supply," he says. They push exports – rain permitting – before Peru starts sending, but for the sake of their programmed business, TFFGSA is in the market every week of the South African season.
Two new destinations will be included in their avocado planning this year: China and India, both large markets that the South African industry has long wished to supply.
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"These are exciting times," Dukes remarks. "It'll be our first time sending to both these markets. For now, we're focusing on getting the European campaign on its way and making sure that existing programmes are fulfilled. We'll probably start loading for India and China in May. We see those markets as a mid to late season opportunity but will assess each season on its merits!"
Apples smaller than usual size curve
TFFGSA grows apples and pears to be marketed by topfruit specialist Ideafruit, resulting in a synergy with which they're very pleased, he says, and which allows them to be in the market, both domestically and internationally, for twelve months of the year.
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"Fruit quality and packouts have been good but we're definitely experiencing that apples are slightly smaller than the usual size curve, mainly due to a lack of cold units and the early summer weather. It's certainly not a major problem, but it tends to put a bit of pressure on the total volumes, which are expected to be slightly down as an industry."
From a volume perspective, he says, pears have been better.
"South Africa has created a very good window in Europe and the UK where the product is in demand from retailers. Obviously, we're cognizant of stock levels [of Northern Hemisphere apples], but we have a very strong programme for Galas and bicoloureds like Pink Lady."
The East as a whole presents good opportunities for their topfruit.
"Thailand has just opened. I think we'll explore that. We want to monitor the logistics and supply chain. Apple exports won't be as much as Vietnam in the beginning, but it's a good opportunity. There will be some re-allocation according to how each market performs."
B for bananas
TFFGSA has a strong subtropical fruit focus: it constitutes 85% of their South African portfolio, mostly avocados, but bananas, mangoes and litchis as well.
Recent political unrest in Mozambique shook the country, but the banana supply has been more stable over the past six weeks. "Banana farmers, like our trusted partner Sunreaped in Mozambique, do a remarkable job to make sure the product is delivered to South African buyers on a daily basis," he remarks. Sunreaped also supplies TFFGSA with mangoes from Mozambique for the South African local market.
The 2024 litchi crop was very poor, and the volumes available for local marketing and exports were constrained. Such is the alternate bearing nature of litchis, he remarks.
For more information:
Trevor Dukes
The Fruit Farm Group South Africa
Tel: +27 15 307 8504
Email: info@thefruitfarmgroup.com
https://www.thefruitfarmgroup.com/en/countries/south-africa/