The beginning of the topfruit season was not a good sign, but even if it went as badly as it began, it might be preparing for a strong performance to South African pears.

The marketing of the earlier Williams or BC harvest was a challenge and involved Packhams that were harvested in the previous year are still in stock. It’s not uncommon, according to the exporter of pear, who would prefer not be identified, and is possible to manage in the event that two types are shipped to different locations.

“Packham is always an upper level than a BC however, we think that the pears from previous seasons must be sold prior to the big pears of the season to commence, or shipped to an area in which the fresh season BC fruit isn’t allowed to China or India due to the cold climate,” He explains. In the Middle East, too. Middle East, too, does not pull the green BC the pears.

So, Europe and Russia remain the major sources of South African BC pears.

The market for pears in Europe has been a boon to South African pears all along but now it’s being challenged by an entirely new market that is attracting South African pears: China.

“Access to China has lifted the entire market for the pears,” he says.

“South African produce is sought-after in China and Chinese do enjoy an South African Forelle. Buyers look to see the PUC codes.”

The ability to ship pear to China is, as according to him, a “fresh breath of air” for the industry of pear.

But, Forelle orchards in the Langkloof suffered a severe hit from hail in February. This was just a few months following hail storms swept through topfruit orchards of the Ceres region.

Over the past couple of years the field has been working to build hail nets on areas where hail was an anomaly. In the absence of nets covering acreage and the loss would have been far greater.

Forelle is a Forelle market has remained solid and, gradually but surely, says he the market is showing increase in the countries in which they trade.