In South Africa’s export-driven apple and pear industry, quality management does not end at harvest. In many cases, that is where the real test begins.
Madrid, 11 of March 2026. Long Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage periods, shifting export timelines and changing market conditions place increasing pressure on fruit performance. Quality risks rarely appear immediately after application. They surface later — during extended storage, delayed shipment or temperature fluctuations — when flexibility is limited and commercial consequences are greater. By the time firmness loss or internal disorders become visible, margins are already under strain.
For this reason, leading exporters are moving beyond isolated interventions and adopting integrated programs that manage the entire season rather than a single moment. Harvest decisions influence storage outcomes. Storage decisions influence market performance. When managed separately, variability accumulates.
Apple & Pear Complete from AgroFresh reflects this integrated approach. It connects pre-harvest maturity management, storage protection, digital visibility and verified execution into one coordinated system designed for South African export conditions.
“Quality risks don’t show up at application — they reveal themselves later, when options are limited and margins are already under pressure.”
As Dutoit Agri explains, Harvista™ is used as a harvest management tool to help consolidate picks, manage labor pressure and control maturity across cultivars. On the storage side, SmartFresh™ has become standard practice for their CA fruit because it provides the consistency and flexibility required for long storage and export programs. The value lies in using these tools together as one integrated approach.
Harvista™ supports a more predictable starting point by managing ethylene expression before harvest, helping to reduce variability entering storage. SmartFresh™ then protects firmness and internal quality throughout extended CA storage, maintaining consistency even when fruit is held longer than initially planned.
FreshCloud™, AgroFresh’s digital decision platform, integrates orchard maturity data and CA monitoring — including Strella sensor technology — into a single, actionable view. Real-time visibility into ethylene, CO₂, O₂, temperature and humidity help storage teams to prioritize rooms intelligently and make informed packing decisions before risk escalates.
AgroFresh™ Verified adds further assurance by confirming correct SmartFresh™ application through laboratory analysis, typically within 24 hours. Verification replaces assumption with data and provides early visibility when corrective action is still possible.
As export programs grow more complex and competitive pressure increases, integrated quality management offers more than treatment. It delivers structured decision-making and greater consistency from orchard to market.
If you are entering extended CA storage this season and want greater visibility, protection and flexibility in your program, plan your storage with a local AgroFresh specialist.
A short discussion today can help prevent difficult decisions later in the season.