South Africa’s apricot season wound down in week 1, and plums posted huge gains in exports over the same period in the 2009-10 season, according to a report from Hortgro Services.

The country sent 3,520 cartons (4.75 kilograms) of apricots to the United Kingdom, finishing off a season in which 570,978 cartons have been shipped to all destinations since week 40. That’s a 38% drop from the 2009-10 season, when 919,557 were shipped.

Plum shipments in week 1, 2011, greatly outpaced shipments from the same time last season. In 2011, 275,098 cartons (5.25 kilograms) were sent, while only 31,666 were sent in the same week in 2010. From week 40 to week 1, a total of 1,862,172 cartons were sent, 26% more than the same period last season, according to the report.

Nectarine exports are up 4% from week 40 to week 1, compared with the same period last season, with 1,641,638 cartons (2.5 kilograms) sent. Peach exports were up 7% through the same period, with 852,099 cartons (2.5 kilograms) sent.

For all stone fruit, 4,926,887 cartons have been shipped from week 40 to week 1. Shipments to the Middle East are increasing dramatically. For example, peach shipments to the region in week 1, 2011, are more than 10 times greater than those from the same period in 2010, the report showed.

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com