Weather conditions over the last couple of months have had a severe impact on the 2023 season in the Witzenberg valley.
"Multiple hail storms have had an impact on our growers, resulting in up to 50% losses on certain varieties," says Melt van Schoor of Good Hope Fruit in Ceres.
"With a challenging 2022 season due to increasing input costs and high freight rates behind us, the hail has created additional pressure through-out the production cost and supply chain for 2023. With the emphasis on maximizing net grower income given given these difficult circumstances, production and marketing practices have been adjusted to re-evaluate fruit and orchards to best identify the correct fruit for export, local or processing markets."
On the upside, he remarks, some of their Witzenberg growers invested in nets over recent years that successfully mitigated the losses on specific orchards.
"For the 2023 season a promising harvest is expected for unaffected fruit with good colour and sizing already being exhibited."
Early pear harvest
Goede Hoop's Abate Fetel pears sell well in Italy
"The Early Bon Chretien (early BCs) and Rosemarie pear harvests have just kicked off. With the season starting earlier and less wind damage than last year, there is a lot to be grateful for. The internal fruit quality is good and the assurance of travel time is positive. Given the opportunity to supply the early market with these varieties, we are excited to kick the season off," he says.
He continues: "Due to the persisting conflict in the Baltic and recessionary forces in Europe, the outlook for the global economy remains fairly gloomy. This makes it even more imperative to think differently and creatively on how to overcome these challenges and once decided, to stick to your strategy and focus on execution."
Melt van Schoor, Jan-Ras van der Linde and Anroux Smit 
For more information:
Melt van Schoor
Good Hope Fruit
Tel: +27 23 315 5295
Email: melt@ghfruit.co.za
https://ghfruit.co.za/