The mission to South Africa and Zimbabwe for the presentation of Macfrut 2023 was carried out last week by President Renzo Piraccini, accompanied by Chiara Campanini of the foreign office of Cesena Fiera. Besides the official moments, it was the occasion to visit some fruit and vegetable companies and packaging centres.
"While the Republic of South Africa is well known,' Piraccini began, 'because it has been one of the international players in the sector for years, Zimbabwe is still little known, even though fruit and vegetables are experiencing a strong development in this country. In view of the International Blueberry Days at the next Macfrut, the focus of my attention could only be the blueberry'.
The Italian delegation with Piraccini, Campanini, Italian ambassador Umberto Malnati, Paolo Sertoli regional director AICS and Antonella Marucci regional director ICE
Blueberry cultivation has found extremely favourable conditions in Zimbabwe. At the moment, about 600 hectares of blueberry are cultivated in Zimbabwe, of which 450 in full production, and 150 in breeding, for a total production of about 9,000 tonnes, of which 6,500 tonnes are exported. The development has been favoured by South African farms that have relocated production (the same happens in Zambia) because there are better climatic conditions here and labour is cheaper. In South Africa, a farm labourer costs about $300 per month, while in Zimbabwe the cost is about a third, i.e. $100 per month.
The owners of Komani Estate, with 32 hectares of blueberries
Piraccini explains: 'Cultivation takes place mainly above ground, in pots with inert substrate fed with fertirrigation, although there is no lack of traditional soil cultivation. About 50 per cent is grown in the open field without any protection and about 50 per cent under plastic nets to protect the crop from adversity and excessive sunlight. The most widespread varieties are those protected under licence from the big international breeders, such as Costa or NBO, although some prefer patent-free varieties'.
Chili Pepper plant
The processing warehouses are modern and equipped with cold rooms made of polyurethane panels and a Freon refrigeration circuit and equipped with pre-cooling for rapid cooling. The product, packaged and palletised, is sent by refrigerated trucks to the ports of Durban and Cape Town or to cold stores located near Harare airport.
"A large part of the export is done with bulk product in 4 kg net plastic crates, while only a small part is done in baskets and cardboard boxes. This is because optical sorting lines that allow for a perfect product are not yet widespread in Zimbabwe. This sorting is often carried out by the importer at destination, prior to release. Part of the large Zimbabwean delegation at Macfrut 2023 will also include several blueberry producers who want to improve their packaging with appropriate technologies and materials."
Logistics centre near Harare airport
Zimbabwe is a large producer of citrus fruits, oranges but also lemons and tangerines, bananas and other vegetables, which it mainly exports to neighbouring countries. Among these, the most interesting ones for export are chilli peppers (hot peppers sold fresh or dried) and cherry peppers (round shaped chillies, also sold fresh, dried or processed).
For further information
Cesena Fiera
Via Dismano 3845 
47522 Cesena (FC) - Italy
+39 0547 317435
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www.macfrut.com