South Africa - Yet more rain could spell quickened end to grapes

24.03.2023 370 views

In the Hex River Valley grape growers are warily watching threatening skies, again, as yet more rain is predicted for the Western Cape.

“If it rains now it’ll cause big problems and the season will pretty much be at its end,” says an exporter. They have several hundred thousand of mostly Crimson (and a bit of Autumn Royal) still to be packed; traditionally South African grapes would arrive in export markets up until week 21 or 22.

A few weeks ago the Western Cape’s packing was halted for a week as a result of the delays at the harbour caused by wind (among other things – some in the freight industry maintain that the port is only 50% responsible for delays; the other half of the blame lies with inefficiencies among freight forwarders and container depots that result in truck drivers sent hither and thither).

The flow through coldstores is better, the exporter adds, but the backlog in the harbour is “terrible “.

“At the moment we are getting space and we’re getting containers and we can get them into the stacks. There’ve been changes to vessel schedules to try and catch up but I don’t think they’ll be able to sort out the backlog before the citrus season,” he comments.

“Could’ve been a great end to grapes”
Rain at various times this grape season has resulted in quality problems and for that reason, grapes have been moving slowly through the packhouse as bunches are carefully worked over.

Export programmes in simple packaging are favoured in case of a rejection when grapes need to be repacked for the local market.

“An early end to the South African table grape season is bad: it’s bad for clients, it’s bad for us, but for those who can make it, prices will be good,” observes a grape exporter. There is little Chilean product in Europe which doesn’t buy much from Brazil.

“The overseas market will definitely be in short supply which actually presents a very good opportunity for late South African grapes, and a chance to obtain good prices. It could’ve been a great end to our season. It certainly felt like the quality and shelf life were better this year.”

The UK remains a stable grape market, while China was much better than last year, FreshPlaza was told, “but only if you send the right product”.

The East was fairly difficult this season, purchase power has diminished. In the Middle East prices are “not on standard”.

Source - https://www.freshplaza.com

26.05.2023

Hungary - Lower apricot exports to rest of Europe due to frost damage

Hungary’s 2023 apricot export season, set to start next month, will see lower volumes sent to the rest of Europe due to widespread frost damage during spring. Last year producers and exporters in the country had a good season, with reasonable volumes, while prices received from Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland were higher than years before.

26.05.2023

India - Hailstorm causes massive damage to crops in north Kashmir

The hailstorm , gusty winds and heavy rainfall wreck havoc across several parts of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday afternoon. The hailstorm damaged  apple orchards, paddy fields besides cherry crop badly. The apple growers believe loss is worth crores of rupees.

26.05.2023

USA - Local farmer worried about drought impact on crop yields

Kansas farmers are hoping for rain as summer approaches and a drought continues that could hurt crop yields. “That’s everybody’s morning prayer, don’t let the rain stop," said Jay Armstrong, a local farmer.

26.05.2023

Ukraine - Stolen fertilizer, destroyed tractors and $40B in losses

Direct damage estimates amount to $8.7 billion, while indirect losses — including lower production of crops and livestock, as well as logistics disruptions and higher production costs — totaled $31.5 billion.

26.05.2023

USA - Heavy rains delay planting in southern Minnesota

Several heavy rainfall events across Southern Minnesota, as well as some adjoining areas of extreme Northern Iowa, have resulted in major delays to the completion of Spring planting in 2023.

26.05.2023

How AI is transforming agriculture: precision farming and smart irrigation

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing various industries, and agriculture is no exception. The rapid advancements in AI technology have given rise to precision farming and smart irrigation, which are transforming the way farmers cultivate their land and manage their resources.

26.05.2023

USA - Storms bring much needed rain to Texas High Plains, some crop damage

A series of storm systems has passed through the region over the past two weeks, bringing beneficial rainfall to West Texas, along with some damaging severe weather. Since May 1, Lubbock has received 2.89 inches of rain, while Amarillo has received 4.29 inches. Yearly totals are 6.15 and 3.75 inches, respectively. 

26.05.2023

Canada - N.S. fruit grower says February's cold snap destroyed peach, plum, nectarine crops

Emily Lutz, the association's executive director, said peach, plum and nectarine trees were severely damaged when temperatures dropped to  –25 C after what had been an unseasonably mild winter.

istanbul escort şişli escort tbilisi escort şişli escort şişli escort maslak escort istanbul escort beşiktaş escort taksim escort izmir escort ümraniye escort mecidiyeköy escort şişli escort taksim escort ümraniye escort kartal escort şirinevler escort maltepe escort istanbul escort ümraniye escort kadıköy escort vip escort mersin escort istanbul escorts ataköy escort avcılar escort beylikdüzü escort okmeydanı escort şişli escort tuzla escort işitme cihazı sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop