Earlier this month, a new cohort of young professionals from across South Africa’s deciduous fruit industry gathered at Bernheim, outside Paarl, for the launch of the 2026 Hortgro Launchpad Programme. The initiative brings together rising talent from across the value…
She steps down in December but her contributions to dormancy research will continue to help pome- and stone-fruit growers negotiate climate change for many years to come. By Anna Mouton. Western Cape winters are getting warmer and the application of…
By Elise-Marie Steenkamp The Pro-Hort programme and the future of the deciduous fruit industry In March this year, Hortgro and Provar, launched “Fruit tasting in the orchard” exhibitions in Ceres and Grabouw to give producers a chance to taste and…
Load shedding in January came at an extremely inconvenient time for deciduous fruit producers, with harvesting, packing and cold store operations currently reaching a seasonal peak. Hortgro’s executive director, Anton Rabe, says: “Farms and packhouses had to make adjustments such…
By Jacques du Preez Although we believe we have reached a turning point, specifically in the Port of Cape Town, regarding the logistical crisis, we foresee another challenging season from a logistical point of view. Therefore, growers, exporters, and logistical…
Adult education has been Lona Odendaal’s focus from early on in her life. The development of peoples’ potential and helping them to make the best of their circumstances has always been her passion. Lona is part of the Hortgro Learning…
Hortgro Science, the South African deciduous fruit industry research engine, recently held its annual Thank-You Breakfast in Stellenbosch. Prof. Wiehann Steyn, Hortgro Science General Manager, said that the event was a celebration and expression of gratitude to everyone who participated…
The Western Cape might be the country’s biggest apple-producing region, but many of the trees come from far away. Gerrit Rautenbach visited the Caledon Valley Nursery near Ficksburg in the Eastern Free State to establish why. Way back in 1989…
By Carmé Naudé Mariette Kotze, Hortgro’s Group Operational Manager, was recently appointed to the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB), as representative of the pome and stone fruit industries. Kotze who has been working in the deciduous fruit industry for…
Are South African growers missing out? By Anna Mouton Global sales of organic food increased to nearly 110 billion euros in 2019. The positive impact of COVID-19 on the demand for organic food is expected to translate into even better…
Hortgro’s long-serving crop protection programme manager started his career with the inception of integrated pest management in South African orchards. By Anna Mouton. Although he was born in Johannesburg, Matthew Addison has deeper roots in the deciduous fruit industry than…
Deciduous Fruit Industry signs pledge to lead the way At the end of October, representatives from Hortgro Pome, Stone and the DFDC came together with the aim to align the industry strategy and to develop “an implementable, measurable, and future-focused…