The pomegranate industry in South Africa is spread over the entire country but concentrated mainly in the Western Cape which has 81% of the plantings.
The second largest province is the Limpopo province in the far North of the country bordering on Zimbabwe with10% of the area planted to commercial blocks.
The third largest province is the Northern Cape in the North West corner of South Africa which has 7%. The Eastern Cape and the Free State each have 1% of the plantings in South Africa. The South African marketed production per year as at 2020 is approximately 1 700 000 cartons weighing 3.8 kilograms each. Fresh market production is 70% of the total and 30% going for processing. This equates to just short of 6 500 tonnes per year. With many young orchards this production is expected to increase.
All the producers or growers in these areas are considered members of the Pomegranate Producers Association of South Africa. And can register and enjoy the benefits of the association.
Associate Pomegranate Producers Association of South Africa membership can also be obtained by pomegranate exporters and importers, marketing agents, nurseries, processors, chemical providers to the industry for plant and product protection, and researchers.
The Pomegranate Producers Association of South Africa (POMASA) was established, with the main purpose of providing a structured platform through which industry specific matters could be addressed with a common benefit for its members.
This would be expensive and difficult for individual growers to manage especially considering the industry was as young as it was. By doing it together it made sense and has provided a very useful organization benefitting all involved in it.
As the pomegranate industry has grown and become more commercialised, pomegranate producers are realising the mutual benefits of an industry body through which common areas can be identified and addressed.
The Pomegranate Producers Association of South Africa (POMASA) which is based in Paarl acts as the mouthpiece for the pomegranate growers, processors, marketing agents, nurseries and research community in South Africa.
Pomegranates in South Africa are either a completely mystical fruit or one that is a fond memory from childhood when bushy shrubs grew in gr...