Aussenkehr grape production less than target

WITH this year’s grape harvest season underway, the Aussenkehr Valley grape growers expect less than the target of six million boxes of grapes weighing 4,5kg each.

This was revealed by Namibian Grape Growers Association chairperson Andre Vermaak, who described this year’s grape harvest as “normal”.

According to Vermaak, the Aussenkehr Valley grape growers have packed about 3,8 million boxes of grapes to date with three weeks to go before the end of harvesting.

He attributed cooler weather conditions for the expected decrease in the grape production this year.

“The grapes’ solid waste liquids are lighter this year due to the cooler weather conditions. This happens once in 10 years,” Vermaak noted.

However, he was quick to say that the quality of the grapes looked better, while markets are stable compared to the previous season. The involvement of the Namibia Agro Marketing Trading Agency (Amta) in overseeing the standard of exports also adds “value to the quality of grapes,” Vermaak added.

He explained that the markets were in “chaos” last year due to the “oversupply” of grapes to the export markets. Vermaak said the Aussenkehr Valley grape growers this year will also export new cultivars, including Melody, Sweety, and Jack Salute.

Vermaak added that 70% of the grapes will be exported to Europe and the Middle East, while only 2,5% will be sold locally.

“This year we have increased supply to the local market. Normally we only supply the local market with less than 1% of the overall production,” Vermaak said.

Amta is expected to commission the first shipment of the grapes to Rotterdam port in Netherlands through the southern Namibian port of Lüderitz today. Vermaak revealed this shipment is only a pilot project, and that only 37 containers which can take 133 000 boxes will be shipped out today.

With this pilot shipment, Vermaak said the grape growers will look at the transport cost and how long the grapes take to reach the export market.