12 Aug 2025
In South Africa’s Western Cape, sweet cherry success depends on varietal adaptation. An eight-year study across three environments shows how local trials and advanced models guide growers in selecting suitable cultivars, reducing risks, and ensuring yield and fruit quality.
30 May 2025
In South Africa, sweet cherries are expanding thanks to low-chill varieties and innovative growing systems. Dutoit leads development with high-efficiency orchards, varietal research, and farming techniques tailored to the country's diverse microclimates.
26 Nov 2024
Despite the frost heavily affecting the early cherry varieties, cherry growers remain optimistic about the overall quality of this season's harvest and the promising opportunities available in both local and international markets.
28 Oct 2024
'South Africa has an earlier season than Chile, and the long-standing relationships with the trade established through the marketing of our apples and pears give us an excellent entry point,' said Calla du Toit of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing.
05 Sep 2024
A study conducted near the city of Ficksburg, South Africa, from September 2017 to December 2018 highlighted the sweet cherry tree's sensitivity to soil moisture levels, especially during critical growth stages, where water stress can significantly impact the yield.
17 Jun 2024
The cherry harvest in the northern hemisphere got off to a promising start, being 10-15 days earlier than in previous years in some European countries. This early start also led to an early end of the season for some varieties.
17 Jun 2024
In situ measurements were conducted in a sweet cherry orchard at the IONIA Sweet Cherry Farm, Ficksburg, South Africa. The study estimated evapotranspiration by combining a simple surface energy balance model with remote sensing data.
19 Jan 2024
Production in 2022 stood at 2866 tonnes, with 66% marketed fresh in the country and 27% dedicated to exports. According to Agri-Hub/PPCEB data reported by Hortgro, in 2022/2023 Great Britain was worth 58% of exports, the Middle East 23%.
01 Dec 2023
Dutoit, one of the leading companies in the fresh produce business in South Africa, is accelerating its investments in the production, packaging, and export of cherries, a new cycle of investments that quickly expanded to a total area of 300 hectares across 6 different farms.
28 Nov 2023
The total Tru-Cape crop dropped from an estimated 520 tons to just over 400 tons due to unfavorable weather conditions, especially during flowering and fruit set, also blamed on a frost wave in September that affected several producers.
