South African pear growers have finally gained entry to the Chinese market and will soon begin exporting pears to the Asian country for the first time ever. Last week, the department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), together with the Chinese government, signed the pear protocol, six years since South Africa began exporting apples to China. A number of South Africa's agricultural sectors have seen remarkable growth this year, including the country's citrus growers gaining access to the Philippines market and the UK's demand for South African pears and apples showing a significant increase. For the pear industry, the Chinese market is crucial for its sustainability and growth. "We can’t wait to ship our first container of delicious, ethically-produced pears that adheres to the strictest food safety protocols, to China," said Jacques du Preez, general manager for trade and markets for Hortgro, the governing body of the South African Deciduous Fruit Industry. "We have experienced tremendous growth in exports to other Eastern nations and now we can supply Chinese consumers with our delicious pears as well," he said.
In 2021, 22% of South Africa's total pear exports landed in the Far East and Asian markets, regions that have experienced healthy growth over the past five years, according to Hortgro. Although it is still early to provide guesstimates for the 2022 crop, this year's winter rains that broke a prolonged drought in South Africa, bode well for the pear crop next year. With orchards and packhouses already provisionally registered with the DALRRD in anticipation of gaining market access, South African growers and exporters are ready to serve the Chinese market, Hortgro said in a statement this week. Gaining new markets, while also maintaining market access are top priorities within Hortgro, Anton Rabe, Executive Director, said. "We have a multi-dimensional team of experts dealing with the ever-increasing demands and compliance issues. Most of this work goes unseen and happen below the radar," Rabe said. "Gaining a market of this nature, is not a silver bullet which will ensure big volumes being exported overnight, nor is it the end of the road. Now the really hard work of developing this market in partnership with the commercial role-players by optimising the potential towards meaningful volumes to China, starts," said Rabe.