Western Cape storms disrupt South African table grape operations, threaten future yields

SOUTH AFRICA – The South African Table Grape Industry has called on provincial and national authorities to provide disaster relief following severe storms, flooding, and strong winds across the Western Cape, damaging farming infrastructure and vineyards in the Berg River, Hex River, and Olifants River regions.

Recurring floods threaten the long-term sustainability of vineyards by destroying replanted vines and eroding farmers’ confidence.

For instance, the Hex River region has now experienced severe flooding for the third time in five years. “In some cases, vines that were replanted in August 2025 to replace vineyards damaged during the 2024 floods have now been washed away again,” said Mecia Petersen of SATI.  

Therefore, producers face a cycle of replanting without any guarantee of survival, eroding both financial reserves and willingness to invest.

Additionally, the financial challenges of rebuilding damaged agricultural infrastructure are substantial. SATI stated that the average cost of establishing 1 hectare of table grapes can reach R1.2 million (US$66,400). For farms where more than a third of plantings have been affected, these costs become prohibitive.

Furthermore, damaged irrigation systems, collapsed netting and poles, and destroyed trellising systems all require simultaneous replacement. “Government disaster-relief processes must be accelerated to address these extenuating circumstances,” Petersen said.

Without rapid intervention, many producers face financial instability after enduring repeated floods over the past few years. In addition, immediate post-harvest management is critical for future grape yields, as post-harvest activities determine the size, quality, and productivity of next season’s crop.

“These post-harvest activities are crucial in determining the size, quality, and productivity of next season’s table grape crop,” Petersen added. “It is therefore essential that affected producers can restore operations as quickly as possible to limit longer-term impacts on productivity, sustainability, and employment.”

The flooding coincides with this essential maintenance window, so delays in recovery will directly reduce future harvest volumes. A major concern at present is access. “In several areas, access roads have been damaged or washed away, leaving some farms inaccessible,” Petersen said.

SATI urged affected producers to complete the Western Cape Department of Agriculture’s damage assessment survey to help quantify losses and support disaster relief applications.

Therefore, importers should closely monitor recovery progress, as reduced future yields may tighten global availability and push prices higher. Thus, diversifying sourcing origins could mitigate supply risk.

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