STATUS OF IFP IN DECIDUOUS FRUIT IN SOUTH AFRICA

Apples, pears, peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots and table grapes will be grown according to IFP.

The deciduous fruit is grown mainly in the Western and Southern Cape Province of South Africa. There are plantings of table grapes in the Orange River area, which is situated in the Northern Cape Province. Some peaches and table grapes are grown in the Transvaal region. All the fruit from these production areas, which is marketed by Unifruco, will be produced according to IFP practices.

The IFP guidelines that are to be implemented will initially relate only to our dessert deciduous, canning and drying fruit industries. The IOBC guidelines were used as a basis for these, but at present there are many differences, largely due to regional variations.

It is the intention of Unifruco to get all its fruit to IFP standards over a period of five years and there will not necessarily be a special IFP label.

Unifruco Ltd., the marketing company of the deciduous fruit industry is organising the implementation of IFP. This is being done through the subsidiaries of Unifruco Ltd.

The control of IFP will be undertaken by the Quality Control officers of Unifruco Ltd.

Advice will be provided by:

• University research staff: Infruitec and Nietvoorbij research staff (Government Research Centres);
• Unifruco and Unifruco Research Services technical advisors;
• Technical staff of co-operatives;
• Technical staff of other fruit farming organisations;
• Technical Advisors of the Agro-chemical industry.

Experiments focused on IPM techniques and development work were conducted on the culture and release of T. occidentalis as well as P. persimilis. Both mite predators are now overwintering in certain areas of the Western and Southern Cape. Trials were also conducted testing different types of cover crop and an insect mating disruption system was also successfully tested.

Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files)