The annual Namibian Table Grape Competition, hosted by the Namibian Grape Growers Association, was held in Aussenkehr on 9 November 2019.

This prestigious event draws great attention and attendance from produc­ers, exporters and visitors from all over Namibia and South Africa. Invited speakers on the day included Charl du Bois, Commercial Executive at Cape-span and Michael Iyambo, Chairman of the Namibian Agriculture Board, who provided an overview of the global grape industry and agricultural sector in Namibia respectively.

Kobus Bothma, Petrus Hakwaashika, Kamati Jeremiah and André Jacobs, chief judge.

The NGC (Namibian Grape Company) made a clean sweep by taking six out of six places in the block competition for the categories Best Production Block and Best Young Block. Capespan Namibia manages the production and marketing of the product on behalf of the NGC.

The winners of the production block category are awarded the opportunity to visit California on a field trip to view new grape varieties. Visitors had the opportunity to visit the winning blocks on the day.

Winners of the Namibia Table Grape Vineyard Block competition are from left: Ludwig Dimunga, Junior Manager Phase A, Kamati Jeremiah, Senior Manager Phase A, Kobus Bothma, Executive Director of Capespan Namibia and Petrus Hakwaashika, Junior Manager Phase A.

Capespan has, over the past five years, invested significantly in expand­ing its own production and partnered production footprint. Clearly these investments in people, new varieties and developments are now starting to deliver on Capespan’s promise to its customers: We deliver. In a statement, Capespan congratulated its Namibian team for this exceptional achievement. The NGC is established as a large-scale table grape producer, affirming Namibian grapes as a global brand because of the outstanding quality and sought-after pre-Christmas timing. The region has an ideal climate for grapes with an enviable advantage of Namib­ian vineyards being pest- and disease-free with not a drop of rain falling during the harvest.

Front: Gideon Nuunyango, Petrus Hakwaashika, Kamati Jeremiah, Kobus Botma, Executive Director of Capespan Namibia. Back: Niekie Rousseau, Ludwig Dimunga, Hendricks Nyambe, Fillipus Hamanyala.

Capespan will export their Namibian grapes to selected markets in the UK, EU, Middle East, Far East and also sup­plies to the local South African market. The season is 7-10 days earlier this year and packing has already com­menced during week 44. A normal yield with exceptional berry size and quality is expected this season.