South Africa: An increase in shipments of nectarines is projected but decreases in other pits

Now that the early South African stonecrop harvest is complete, clear patterns are developing. Shipments of nectarines, for example, are exceeding expectations, but the early harvest of plums, where the largest investment has been made in recent years, has decreased, Fruitnet confirmed. This is likely to continue for the remainder of the season, with plums expected to finish 4% below last season's crop. Some exporters have said they have packed and shipped up to 60% more nectarines earlier in the season; However, logistical problems at Cape Town port have hampered exports. Hortgro predicted that nectarine exports would increase 20% this year, from 7.7 million boxes last year to 9.2 million this year. “The increase is due to the entry into production of young orchards, as well as new cultivars with higher yields. “Early-season volumes increased by 23%, and mid- and late-season volumes are estimated to increase respectively by 22% and 23% compared to 2022/2023,” the entity detailed. ...