South Africa currently has over 22,500 hectares under apple production. The main apple growing
areas are in the Western Cape with some recent plantings of Royal Gala in the Orange Free State.
Over 18 million cartons of apples are exported from South Africa each year to the United
Kingdom (39%) Central Europe (23%), Middle and Far East (24%), Africa (11%) and the
Americas (3%). Apples constitute 30% of the total deciduous crop in South Africa.
Apples have been grown in South Africa since 1652, when Jan van Riebeeck established the first
plantings. Good post harvest practices have arisen from the need to continually improve quality
to meet more and more stringent market requirements. It is imperative to maintain these high
standards from the time the fruit is harvested until it is sold.