SATI STATISTICS OF TABLE GRAPES IN SOUTH AFRICA 2019

2018/2019 PRODUCTION OVERVIEW

NATIONAL INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION The South African Table Grape Industry survived the most severe drought in 100 years that persisted for the last 3 years. This long-term drought affected three of the 5 growing regions in the country, namely the Olifants, Berg and Hex River regions. Producers finished the 2018/2019 season proving the joint tenacity of the table grape industry to continue farming under one of the biggest challenges seen in its 125-year history. After reasonable winter rain and a promising harvest at the start of the 2018/2019 season in especially the Western Cape, it was hoped that the vines would have recovered sufficiently from the drought. However, nature took its toll with the after effect of the drought, rain during packing and a heatwave during October 2018, which really set the challenges for producers. South African producers harvested 61,1 million cartons (4,5 kg equivalent cartons). This is 1,6% lower than the 2017/18 harvest of 62,1 million cartons.

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SATI STATISTICS 2019