Canned fruit industry in South Africa faces uncertain future

The South African canning fruit industry is still faced with uncertainty as fruit farmers uproot trees in an effort to reduce their exposure. According to the CEO of the Canning Fruit Producers’ Association, Jacques Jordaan, challenges faced by fruit farmers could have an effect on the future supply of canning fruit for canned fruit processors in the country. The reason, he explained, is that some fruit farmers narrow their focus and explore alternative crops with the current uncertainty in the industry. “[As a result] farmers are now consolidating their farms. There aren’t many new farms and the profitability of orchards is under pressure. Instead of branching out, they are consolidating mostly,” Jordaan explained. He also does not expect farmers to increase plantings. “There is a lot of uncertainty at the moment,” he said. Hortgro group communications manager Elise-Marie Steenkamp told Food For Mzansi that it is common practice for fruit farmers to supplement their fruit-farming ...