Packaging becomes a bigger part of export risk management for SA fruit growers

The issue is particularly relevant ahead of the peak table grape and deciduous fruit export season. During the previous season, about 55,000 tonnes of table grapes were rerouted through Eastern Cape ports to reduce exposure to delays at the Port of Cape Town. For growers, those delays can translate directly into lower returns. Agrimark Managing Director Arno Abeln says prolonged waiting times at ports can affect fruit quality by the time consignments reach Europe and other export markets, resulting in lower prices or, in severe cases, rejection.

Packaging should protect value, not simply reduce cost

One of the clearest messages for growers is that packaging should not be treated purely as an area where costs can be cut. Export fruit may spend extended periods in cold storage, road transport, port terminals and containers before reaching customers. Cartons, punnets, clamshells, straps and other components therefore need to withstand handling, moisture, temperature changes and longer-than-planned transit times. Inferior packaging may save money upfront but can increase the risk of damage, reduced shelf life or compromised presentation at destination.

Export requirements are changing constantly

Packaging decisions are also increasingly shaped by the requirements of individual markets and retailers. Specifications around pack formats, branding, labelling, recyclability and sustainability can differ substantially between customers and may change from one season to the next. Abeln pointed to one recent example where expectations initially suggested greater demand for heat-sealed packaging, only for buyers to shift towards clamshells instead. For exporters, such changes can create problems if packaging has been ordered too early without enough flexibility, or too late to secure alternative formats.

Planning needs to start well before harvest

Agrimark advises growers to begin packaging planning at least six months before the export season. That planning should take into account the cultivar, expected harvest period, destination market and the specific packaging requirements of customers. This is becoming more important as growers extend export windows with earlier and later cultivars, while weather variability makes harvest timing less predictable. If the correct packaging is not available when fruit reaches the packhouse, delays can quickly affect cooling, handling and final quality.

Longer routes increase the risk

The challenge is even greater where fruit already travels long distances before reaching the port. In Namibia, for example, around nine million boxes of table grapes are produced annually, with much of the fruit transported by road towards Cape Town for export. By the time a consignment has travelled from farm to port, waited for loading and completed its sea journey, packaging has played a continuous role in protecting the fruit. The same principle applies to South African production regions located far from export terminals.

Why this matters for South African producers

Growers invest heavily in genetics, irrigation, crop protection, labour and packhouse systems to produce export-quality fruit. That investment can still be undermined during the final stages of the supply chain if packaging is unsuitable for the journey or if a shipment encounters unexpected delays. In a logistics environment where producers have limited control over vessel schedules and port congestion, packaging is one of the areas they can manage directly. The most effective approach is therefore not simply to buy packaging at the lowest price, but to select systems that match the fruit, export market and expected logistics risk. For South African fruit exporters, packaging has become part of protecting shelf life, customer confidence and ultimately grower returns.