By Gerrit Rautenbach In January of this year, one of the biggest nightmares for any fruit farmer became a horrible reality in the Langkloof. Hail. Some farmers were fortunate, some less so and some got wrecked by the falling ice…
The South African deciduous fruit industry needs to take note of the government’s announcement that it is going to adopt a zero-tolerance stance on the hiring of illegal foreign workers in South Africa. The Department of Home Affairs has developed…
Text: Elise-Marie Steenkamp and Pictures: Alisa Farr The first full container of South African stone fruit bound for the People’s Republic of China was dispatched last week from the Freshness First Packhouse in Franschhoek, marking a milestone for the country’s deciduous…
Hortfin the blended-finance scheme created to facilitate and enable transformation in the fruit, table grape and wine industries’ value chain, has announced a new partnership with First National Bank (FNB) at an event at Klein Joostenberg, Muldersvlei, yesterday. Hortfin, comprehensive…
Hortfin, the first ring-fenced loan facility of the fruit and wine industry value chain, has appointed Michael Brinkhuis as its new Chief Executive Officer. Brinkhuis, who qualified as a horticulturist and holds a Masters degree in Agriculture from the University…
Text and Pictures: Elise-Marie Steenkamp A pioneering blended finance partnership between the UK Government, South African development financiers, industry bodies and implementing agencies is demonstrating how collaboration can unlock commercial opportunities for farmers in Mpumalanga, helping to build alternative economic…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Hortfin: A Financial Game-Changer Transforming the Deciduous Fruit Industry [Paarl, 10 February 2025] – Hortfin, the pioneering blended-finance scheme established to drive economic development in South Africa’s deciduous fruit industry, celebrated seven years of “meaningful impact” at…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Paarl, South Africa — 22 May 2026 HORTGRO Appoints Jacques du Preez as New Chief Executive Officer Industry veteran steps up as founding leader, Anton Rabe, retires after decades of distinguished service HORTGRO, the leading statutory body…
Hortgro, the deciduous fruit industry body of South Africa, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Unati Speirs as a new board director. She will be taking over the vacancy left by Dr Mono Mashaba who served the industry…
Kersie aanplantings het die afgelope vyf jaar met 54% toegeneem. Dit ten spyt, bly Suid-Afrikaners swak kersie eters, met die gemiddelde persoon wat slegs 18 gram kersies per jaar eet. Hierdie en ander interessante feite, is verlede week by die…
The deciduous fruit industry is one of the largest export sectors within the agricultural sector. It employs on average 63,145 permanent equivalent farm workers per annum with an estimated 252 579 dependents. The National Minimum Wage Commission recommended to the…