DECIDUOUS FRUIT PRODUCTION | SOUTH AFRICA
Ceres
Hot summers and cold winters combined with the finest soil conditions for fruit growing makes Ceres one of the country's most famous fruit producing areas. Pears grown in this area are of the highest quality. Leading producers include Wolfpack Pears, Qualifresh/ Bronaar and du Toit Group.
Production Areas
| District |
Number of trees |
Area (ha) |
| Ceres |
4,848,872 |
4,618 |
| Groenland |
2,121,228 |
1,476 |
| Langkloof East |
1,529,913 |
1,431 |
| Wolseley / Tulbagh |
1,609,653 |
1,219 |
| Villiersdorp / Vyeboom |
1,169,697 |
915 |
| Little Karoo |
699,570 |
791 |
| Somerset West |
305,009 |
219 |
| Berg River |
246,644 |
204 |
| Piketberg |
192,760 |
189 |
| Stellenbosch |
222,605 |
168 |
| Langkloof West |
104,700 |
111 |
| Southern Cape |
147,339 |
116 |
| Hex Valley |
45,225 |
34 |
| Franschhoek |
32,904 |
27 |
| Worcester |
41,286 |
28 |
| Eastern Cape |
1,700 |
1 |
| Namaqualand |
1,000 |
1 |
| Mpumalanga |
336 |
0.4 |
| TOTAL |
13,318,911 |
11,548 |
| Ceres |
4,848,872 |
4,618 |
| Groenland |
2,121,228 |
1,476 |
| Langkloof East |
1,529,913 |
1,431 |
| Wolseley / Tulbagh |
1,609,653 |
1,219 |
| Villiersdorp / Vyeboom |
1,169,697 |
915 |
| Little Karoo |
699,570 |
791 |
| Somerset West |
305,009 |
219 |
| Berg River |
246,644 |
204 |
| Piketberg |
192,760 |
189 |
| Stellenbosch |
222,605 |
168 |
| Langkloof West |
104,700 |
111 |
| Southern Cape |
147,339 |
116 |
| Hex Valley |
45,225 |
34 |
| Franschhoek |
32,904 |
27 |
| Worcester |
41,286 |
28 |
| Eastern Cape |
1,700 |
1 |
| Namaqualand |
1,000 |
1 |
| Mpumalanga |
336 |
0.4 |
| TOTAL |
13,318,911 |
11,548 |
SOURCE: DFPT TREE CENSUS 2006
Area Planted per Cultivar
SOURCE: DFPT TREE CENSUS 2006
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Western Cape
More than half of the Deciduous fruit growers in the Western Cape, in Grabouw, Elgin, Ceres and the Langkoof market their produce through Tru-Cape in Somerset West.The quality of the fruit and its international reputation can be attributed to the ideal climate: mild Mediterranean conditions combined with the excellent soil in this region.
| District |
Number of trees |
Area (ha) |
| Groenland |
7,271,718 |
6,332 |
| Ceres |
5,432,530 |
4,863 |
| Langkloof East |
3,585,654 |
3,992 |
| Villiersdorp / Vyeboom |
3,383,203 |
3,396 |
| Langkloof West |
467,580 |
468 |
| Piketberg |
436,230 |
332 |
| Free State |
390,542 |
267 |
| Little Karoo |
207,150 |
265 |
| Southern Cape |
308,269 |
225 |
| Mpumalanga |
249,273 |
164 |
| Somerset West |
198,479 |
126 |
| Wolseley / Tulbagh |
79,285 |
65 |
| Berg River |
34,234 |
36 |
| North East Free State |
50,937 |
32 |
| Stellenbosch |
23,601 |
19 |
| Worcester |
26,082 |
16 |
| Eastern Cape |
3,739 |
15 |
| Northern Province |
11,286 |
7 |
| Gauteng |
10,872 |
7 |
| Franschhoek |
4,854 |
3 |
| TOTAL |
22,175,518 |
20,633 |
| SOURCE: DFPT TREE CENSUS 2006 |
|
|
| Cultivar |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
| Granny Smith |
6,357 |
5,871 |
5,445 |
5,259 |
| Golden Delicious |
5,213 |
4,898 |
4,658 |
4,498 |
| Royal Gala |
2,382 |
2,341 |
2,416 |
2,410 |
| Pink Lady |
1,328 |
1,308 |
1,339 |
1,382 |
| Starking |
1,681 |
1,487 |
1,314 |
1,241 |
| Topred |
1,497 |
1,387 |
1,308 |
1,282 |
| Fuji |
684 |
712 |
767 |
825 |
| Braeburn |
662 |
643 |
649 |
685 |
| Other |
2,575 |
2,679 |
2,878 |
3,052 |
| TOTAL |
22,379 |
21,326 |
20,774 |
20,633 |
SOURCE: DFPT TREE CENSUS 2006
Lower Orange River Valley
The plentiful water supply from the Orange River and deep alluvial soils have enabled extensive crop irrigation, the most important being table grapes and sultanas. In fact this area is the largest producer of table grapes in South Africa. In particular Karsten Farms, and Keboes farms are known as the largest.
Hex River Valley
Surrounded by the Cape's highest mountains, the Hex River Valley produces the largest annual quantity of table grapes in the southern hemisphere! The Hex Valley produces over 17 million cartons of table grapes per year. Big producers include Grape Pro, and AS Viljoen farms.
Production Areas
| District |
Number of Trees |
Area (ha) |
| Lower Orange River |
19,857,674 |
11,124.6 |
| Hex valley |
10,871,101 |
5,086.9 |
| Berg River |
5,564,505 |
3,018.1 |
| Piketberg |
1,923,036 |
1,197.6 |
| Namaqualand |
2,353,050 |
1,038.8 |
| Limpopo |
1,646,228 |
910.1 |
| Little Karoo |
634,256 |
301.8 |
| North West |
171,111 |
102.7 |
| Wolseley / Tulbagh |
35,886 |
20.1 |
| Stellenbosch |
155,374 |
67.2 |
| Gauteng |
72,600 |
41.1 |
| Upper Orange River |
42,900 |
21.3 |
| Villiersdorp / Vyeboom |
10,650 |
4.4 |
| Free State |
15,203 |
7.0 |
| Ceres |
11,837 |
7.1 |
| Langkloof East |
7,100 |
3.6 |
| Groenland |
2,300 |
2.5 |
| Worcester |
8,801 |
4.0 |
| Langkloof West |
100 |
0.2 |
| TOTAL |
43,383,712 |
22,959 |
Area Planted per Cultivar
SOURCE: DEPT TREE CENSUS 2006
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