Hortgro Footprint Award 2026 | Steven Versfeld | Achtertuin Farm

The future of the South African deciduous fruit industry depends on how we respond to today and tomorrow’s environmental challenges. The Hortgro Footprint Award 2026 celebrates producers, exporters, packhouses, and industry partners leading the way in sustainability, innovation, and responsible use of natural resources.

Sustainability means different things to different people or groups. In essence, sustainability means something that is good for the 3 P’s – People, planet, prosperity or the 3 C’s– community, Conserve, commerce and some may say the 3 E’s– equity, ecology and economics.

Today, what is good for the environment is good for business- a major shift towards sustainability marks a complete change in corporate priorities. Now, our environment matters as much as economics does. This is what this Footprint award is about – showcasing and praising the champions in these environmentally conscious business practices. This award highlights the transition from business as usual to business and what else matters.

We hope that this award will inspire and motivate companies in our industry to adopt and prioritise environmentally conscious decisions throughout their product’s life cycle.

Motivation: Steven Versfeld, owner of Achtertuin Farm, is the deserving recipient of the 2026 Hortgro Footprint Award. His selection stems from a deep-seated, long-term personal commitment to environmental stewardship that goes far beyond baseline compliance and shows how an independent producer can drive transformative sustainability.

From as early as 1996, when Steven joined his father in the farming operation, they began moving away from conventional agricultural practices toward biological farming, placing soil health and minimal chemical inputs at the core of the business.

Steven was selected for this award due to a long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship that began well before ESG regulations became industry standard. Nestled in the Ceres region, his family farm, Achtertuin, has served as a real-world testing ground for sustainable practices over generations. As an early adopter of the Confronting Climate Change (CCC) carbon footprint calculator in 2011, he has consistently measured and reduced operational emissions while pushing his environmental focus far beyond core orchard operations.

His efforts to clear alien vegetation from adjacent mountain slopes show a deep commitment to ecological restoration. By embracing regenerative agriculture, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and soil health enhancement, Steven works in complete harmony with his micro-climate, earning Achtertuin the selection as the pilot farm for Hortgro’s soil carbon removal pilot project.

Operating as a sole producer without the massive resource pools of corporate enterprises, his grit and resilience highlight the monumental environmental impact achievable at farm scale. Ultimately, Steven has prioritised high-quality staff housing and community well-being alongside his cutting-edge green practices. His commitment to holistic sustainability was further reinforced in 2021 when he became the first South African producer to achieve the SIZA Platinum Status with zero non-compliances for ethical labour practices.

Steven Versfeld’s pioneering spirit, tenacity, and authentic green journey embody the essence of the Hortgro Footprint Award and inspire the entire deciduous fruit industry.