South African Vine fruit, Crop Report August 2023

The 2023 vine fruit crop is shaping up to be a good one, with improved quality and potential for increased volumes. The quality of the 2023 crop has improved significantly compared to 2022, mainly due to more favorable weather conditions. The winter was cold with sufficient accumulated cold units, which is essential for good grape ripening. The spring was also cool and wet, which helped to improve fruit set and size.

Volume

Early indications are that the 2023 crop could exceed 70,000 mt, which would be a significant increase from the 60,000 mt produced this year. The increase in volume is being attributed to a number of factors, including the improved quality of the crop, which is making it more attractive to growers.

Weather

The weather conditions have been favorable for vine fruit production in both the Orange River and Olifants River regions. The Orange River had a cold winter with sufficient accumulated cold units, while the Olifants River area had good winter rains and the dams are full. This means that there will be no water shortages in this area the coming season.

The outlook for the 2023 vine fruit market is positive. The improved quality and increased volumes are expected to lead to higher prices. Additionally, the strong demand for vine fruit from both domestic and export markets is expected to continue.