In 2016, Barendrecht-based InnoFruit acquired two adjacent table grape farms in South Africa, located 300 kilometers north of Cape Town. Innofruit is part of Fruitful Ventures with Olympic Fruit as main commercial company what decided to backward integrate in the chain in the last years. The two farms were merged into a single production site, and in the following years, 70 hectares were transformed into a modern production facility for table grapes and vegetables. The specific climate of the Trawal Valley provides an extended growing window. FreshPlaza visited the packing station of Cederberg Farming in the middle of the grape season.
According to the general manager in South Africa, it is not uncommon for vineyards to be converted for the production of table grapes. "There are many vineyards older than twenty years that are being prepared for table grape cultivation," says general manager Morné Paxton. Cederberg Farming focuses on early red varieties but has also planted some early white varieties. "Our flagship product is for sure our Crimson and we end our season with 9 ha of Autumn Crisp. In the mid-season, Joybells and Ivory are the main cultivars." 
"The current season in South Africa is going better than anticipated. All regions are experiencing not too bad weather. The crops are looking healthy and the rain did not create as much havoc as in some of our previous seasons. On the logistic side Cape Town harbour is for shure running more smoothly than the previous season. The harbour has been less windbound this season and ships are coming in and out faster. The shortage of containers is also not as severe as last year."
Steady demand for table grapes
"All regions that are finished were not too far of estimates. The Olifants river valley will reach their target. The Berg and Hex river is now in full swing. We will have to see how their seasons unfold. Selling prices in the EU is nearly the same as last year. There is a steady demand at the moment. We will see what the prices does in February after more produce from SA arrives.
The Olifants River valley is unique because of its dry climate and also a long summer. "The area also produces grapes in the early window of South Africa which is financially very lucrative. Our area is also a winter rainfall area so the risk of rain in packing season is lower than some of the Northern parts in the same window," the general manager declares.
Early red grapes
"The biggest advantage of our area is the ability to produce good red seedless grape in the early season with good quality and high yields. Our evening still cool off in December and January and that is great for color development. "Our goal is to further expand production in the early segment. Last year, we acquired a neighboring farm where we can cultivate early white and red varieties on the slopes, allowing us to bring Crimson grapes to market earlier."
"This season we struggled with sugar development in the early season. The sugar came slowly and the n after a few heat waves all the early and mid season cultivars were ripe at the same time. The later cultivars were on time thus creating a bottleneck of ripe grapes. The challenge then is to get all the grapes packed away before it goes bad," says Morné.
Focus on export to the EU
Because Cederberg is affiliated with Olympic Fruit therefor it is its primary marketing party, Fresh Pride responsible for exports to East Asia where our local team in Singapore are building relationships with our clientele there. " Our main focus is in the EU – Holland to be specific. We also export Crimson to East Asia where our Bloom brand has made a good name for itself."
Time for sports during the break
"We also have a second leg on the farm. We produce tomato's from outside lands and we are also farming in a anti Tuta Absoluta nethouse. We also export butternuts and pumpkins and also sell to local markets. This season we will also harvest our pomogranate blocks for the first time."Due to the long summers in our region, we are also able to focus on both the early and late seasons for our vegetable production," concludes Morné. 
FreshPlaza editors Pieter Boekhout and Izak Heijboer on tour in South Africa
For more information:
Morné Paxton
Cederberg Farming
Tel: +27 (0)27 216 1632
m.paxton@cederbergfarming.com
www.cederbergfarming.com