South Africa set to emerge as a leading exporter of ‘red’ kiwifruit
The local kiwifruit industry is undergoing a transformation, with new varieties positioning SA as a major player in the global export market.
New plantings of yellow- and red-fleshed varieties are boosting South Africa’s kiwifruit business.
While kiwifruit farming in South Africa began over 25 years ago, the local industry struggled to enter the export market.
Now, different varieties that are better suited to the South African climate are unlocking new opportunities.
“The warmer South African climate is more suited to produce yellow- and red-flesh kiwis, given these varieties’ lower winter chill requirement,” Pieter de Jongh of The Kiwi Connection told Fruitnet.
A shift in global trade dynamics has also seen South Africa overtake New Zealand as a dominant player in the Braeburn apple export market. Read more on that story here.
Showcasing innovation
The Kiwi Connection is a South African joint venture between TopFruit and the RSA Group.
The company focuses on evaluating, supporting, and commercialising new kiwifruit varieties.
It is also the master licensee for KiwiKo’s varieties in Southern Africa. KiwiKo, founded in 2020 by TopFruit and Miko Asia, manages the development and protection of new kiwifruit varieties globally.
The company invested in Yanoon BioTech, a leading breeding program based in China, and manages Yanoon’s varieties worldwide (excluding China).
The Kiwi Connection recently hosted South Africa’s first Kiwifruit Field Day. This annual event will showcase different kiwifruit varieties under different climatic conditions.
The local test blocks were in Worcester, George, and Grabouw in the Western Cape.
The event drew 30 international experts from Portugal, France, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, China and India, along with 20 local attendees.
South Africans still prefer green kiwifruit
According to De Jongh, global demand is switching to the (sweeter) yellow- and red-flesh kiwifruit varieties.
Thus the marketing strategy from SA is to export at least 95% of its kiwis, which will be dominated by the new varietals.
“The South African consumer still prefers a green kiwi, but the popularity of yellow kiwis are growing,” De Jongh added.
The local season—from mid-February to late April—also fills a unique supply gap between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere harvests.