Canada is now the country’s third-largest grape market, with sales in the US also growing.
South African grape exporters have said they are pleased with sales progress being made in North America, where Canada has over the past few years become the country’s third-largest market.
The country is also eyeing a larger share of the US market, where exporters have adapted to strict US phytosanitary rules and are now able to deliver high-quality products.
Grape exporters have begun their export programme to Canada, with the first grapes shipped last week.
Shipments to the US are due to start in week 51, and exporters are confident that they will see further growth in that market.
Alwyn Dippenaar, CEO of Dippenaar Choice Fruit in the Orange River, has for some years, along with other growers, worked to expand sales in Canada.
“We are pleased with what we have achieved so far,” he said. “Last year we shipped 1.2mn cartons more than the previous year and our sales in 2024 were 7 per cent higher than in 2022.”
Previous Sati chairperson and Hex River grower Anton Viljoen said that supplying more grapes into the US would relieve pressure on Europe, where markets are perhaps oversupplied in the late season.
What is also important is that South African grape growers are keen investors in excellent new varieties, many of which are also grown in California and are well-known in the US market and among consumers.
Leon Viljoen has pioneered the planting several of IFG bred varieties, such as Sweet Globe and Sweet Celebration in South Africa.
The Sun World variety Autumncrisp, which is strongly promoted and branded in the US, is also well-established in South Africa.
These varieties are now among the top cultivars being planted in the country.
“We also know that we are benefitting from the AGOA Act, which allow us to ship our grapes free of tariffs into the USA,” Viljoen noted.
