Niël Terblanché
Namibia has commenced its table grape export season, with the first shipments of this year’s Southern African harvest set to reach international markets.
The country anticipates a robust export season, driven by favorable weather conditions and an array of new grape varieties.
Harvesting of early table grape varieties is currently underway in Namibia, with the initial shipments already en route from the port of Cape Town.
The nation is aiming for a similar export volume to last year, which saw approximately 10.5 million cartons of grapes sent abroad. Early indications suggest a high-quality crop, with a focus on the Early Sweet variety during the initial packing phase.
One noteworthy aspect of this season is the introduction of new grape varieties.
Several Namibian growers have partnered with Sun World, a prominent breeder of fruit varieties, to cultivate and commercialize these exciting additions.
Among these new varieties is Sugrathirtyfive, branded as AutumnCrisp, known for its popularity among retailers and consumers worldwide.
Sun World is also testing the Sugrafiftythree variety, an early red seedless grape recently launched under the Ruby Rush brand.
Another breeding program, Arra, is expected to make significant advancements in Namibia this season.
TopFruit, a leading cultivar management company responsible for marketing Arra varieties across Southern Africa, expressed optimism about the upcoming season’s prospects.
“In both South Africa and Namibia, growers have long been cautious about the unpredictability of weather patterns,” said AJ Jansen van Vuuren, TopFruit’s table grape manager. “However, they now have tools at their disposal to manage this risk to a significant extent. Newly released Arra varieties provide growers with peace of mind in uncertain times when it comes to climatic events,” he added.
The first shipments from Namibia are eagerly awaited in European markets, where strong demand is expected.
Recent weather-related events around the world have impacted grape production in various regions, leading to increased market opportunities for Namibian exports.
Growers and industry experts are optimistic about the season ahead, which promises both quality and quantity in Namibia’s table grape exports.
