Apple and citrus growers in South Africa’s Western Cape and Eastern Cape are gradually returning to normal operations after severe flooding disrupted harvesting, damaged infrastructure and delayed exports over the past two months.
The floods washed away roads, damaged power infrastructure and cut access to orchards, forcing growers to suspend harvesting and incur significant additional costs. Although export operations have resumed, producers say full recovery will take several months.
Infrastructure damage disrupts harvests
Late-season apple harvesting and citrus picking were severely affected as damaged roads and electricity outages prevented growers from accessing orchards and packing facilities.
According to Gys du Toit of the Dutoit Group, electricity supplies to the Ceres region have now largely been restored after growers and packers relied on diesel generators for almost a month.
“For a month we had to rely on diesel-powered generators at enormous cost to growers and packers,” he said.
The disruption added to existing pressures facing exporters, including higher freight costs linked to instability in the Middle East and rising production expenses driven by higher fuel prices.
Langkloof growers face heavy losses
The Langkloof Valley, one of South Africa’s major apple-producing regions, experienced some of the most severe transport disruptions.
Floodwaters destroyed the main road connecting the valley with the export ports of Gqeberha and Ngqura, forcing growers to construct a temporary bypass to avoid an alternative route through George that would have added approximately 600 kilometres to each journey.
According to Johan Kotze, chairman of the Langkloof Growers’ Association, around 40% of the region’s apple and pear crop had already been packed and was awaiting shipment when the floods struck.
Kotze estimates the disaster will cost growers approximately R28 million in losses.
Citrus harvest delayed in Eastern Cape
In the Gamtoos Valley, one of South Africa’s important citrus-producing areas, flooding delayed the start of the citrus harvest by more than a month.
“We were unable to get the fruit to the packhouses and the ports,” said SG Ferreira, chairman of the Patensie Fruit Growers Association.
“It will take a long time to repair infrastructure, but we are now again fully engaged with our harvesting and export activities.”
Ferreira estimates that citrus production in the Gamtoos region could decline by between 15% and 20%, representing a significant loss for growers.
Export programmes resume
Despite the setbacks, growers say harvesting, packing and export operations are now largely back on schedule as they work to recover lost time and meet international market commitments.
While infrastructure repairs are expected to continue for several months, producers are optimistic that normal supply programmes have resumed, helping South Africa maintain exports to key global markets despite one of the most disruptive flood events to affect the Cape fruit industry in recent years.