Grape farming: stick to the basics to succeed!

While production on most grape farms in the Orange River region has taken a knock this season due to adverse weather conditions, GPA Boerdery has managed to achieve a decent harvest. Lourens Maass and his son Kobus, who run GPA, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about their recipe for success.

- Glenneis Kriel

Unfavourable climatic conditions in the Orange River region this season have caused a significant drop in production on most wine, table grape and raisin farms.

According to Jacques Ferreira, manager of commercial industrial affairs at the South African Table Grape Industry, the region delivered 16,4 million 4,5kg-equivalent cartons of table grapes for export inspection this season. This was about 27% less than the previous season and about 17% less than the region’s five-year average.

The Orange River region produces 85% to 87% of South Africa’s raisin supply. Raisins South Africa reported that the country produced 78 757t of raisins last season, with production expected to decline to between 63 000t and 68 000t this season.

Charl du Plessis, CEO of Orange River Cellars in Upington, says that wine-grape production in the region averages around 35t/ha, but was closer to 20t/ha this season.

Despite the decline in all three grape types, some farmers, such as father-and-son-team Lourens and Kobus Maass of GPA Boerdery near the town of Grootdrink, are still producing decent volumes.

Lourens says that during the 2021/22 season, they achieved 2,5t more raisins per hectare than the industry average, although the 2022/23 harvest was 19% lower than last season’s.

Nonetheless, the quality of their raisins was much better than the previous season, when many grapes were downgraded as a result of a downy mildew outbreak. Lourens adds that the improved quality more than made up for the reduced volume.

Their 2022/23 wine-grape production was 5% higher than last season’s, but about 10% lower than their long-term average.

KEEPING IT SIMPLE