The Northern Hemisphere is taking over the orange season from the Southern Hemisphere. While the last oranges from South Africa are sold in Europe, the supply from the Mediterranean countries is getting under way.
Wine industry representative body Vinpro expects 2019 wine grape crops will return to normal levels in most regions, owing to good rainfall after a three-year-long drought.
The world’s appetite for avocados just keeps growing. Business in Colombia is booming, with experts predicting the country could become the world’s second largest exporter of the Hass variety over the next 10 years, after Mexico.
Onion producers in the Koue Bokkeveld region of the Western Cape are in a favourable position to respond to the shortage of onions in Europe, after adequate rain this past season.
While the new harvest has been completed in China, the last volumes of the previous campaign are still being marketed in the US. Traders are seeing a decline in terms of quality, which is also reflected in the prices.
The recent heat wave in the Western Cape that started around 22 October has given way to more temperate temperatures. The full effect of the high temperatures – some areas edging past 40°C – on fruit crops will become clear over the next few weeks, but overall the prospect for the season looks far more favourable than last year.
