Coming pomegranate season: SA industry optimistic

Fruit is exported fresh, packaged as juice or in punnets. Europe is the largest import market, followed by Russia, the Far East and the UK.

"There have been a lot of plantings in the last three to four years and we are expecting the crop this season, and the following, to double and then for it to stabilise over the next few years," Louw told Freshfruitportal.com. The industry has yet to compile official figures but it is estimated last season 400,000 cartons were exported, with the prediction that at least 500,000 cartons will be shipped this year.

Louw said he expected bigger volumes in 2012 with the season starting at the end of February. "The trees are now more established and they can bear more fruit, and in three to four years we are expecting real volumes," he said. This year there were 100 hectares of new plantings, bringing the total volume of hectares to between 1,200 and 1,300. Key South African pomegranate cultivars are Aco, Wonderful and Herskovitz.

Read the full article on www.freshfruitportal.com.