By Gerrit Rautenbach The A&B Williams fruit packaging and transport business in Elgin is owned and operated by four people. The two Williams brothers, Anges and Bevin, and their wives, Natalie and Danielle. The business has been active in the…
While we don’t know for how many years the Witte Wijn apple, the first-ever apple variety picked in the Cape in 1662, was lost, estimates by Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing’s sleuths suggest it may have been hundreds of years. Since returning…
(Summary extracted from a report by the Global Coalition of Fresh Produce)* Fresh produce—fruits and vegetables—is essential to a healthy diet, yet the industry that brings these foods to our tables faces significant challenges. Understanding the complexities behind costs, pricing,…
Tanja Hichert is a professional futurist who has helped an impressive list of clients — from the City of Cape Town to the World Bank — to identify ways in which to reach their preferred futures. By Anna Mouton. Hichert…
Ouplaas is an exceptional farm in the Witzenberg Valley. More impressive is that many of the inhabitants are runners. No, not running away, but running to be better at what they do. Breaking records in all sorts of events. Maybe…
As a rule, most farmers are keen to provide adequately for their workers, especially when it comes to housing. Because a happy homer is a hard worker. Yet, to get to the honeypot, it’s best to follow the guidelines. By…
No one can predict the future. But can we identify actions that we can take today to shape a better tomorrow? By Anna Mouton. Hortgro recently contracted professional futurist Tanja Hichert to facilitate a foresight study for the pome- and…
Stellenbosch University, HORTGRO and the ISHS are proud to announce that the XIV International Pear Symposium will take place from 22-26 January 2023 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The XIV International Pear Symposium will offer a great opportunity to exchange the…
The Jobs Fund (JF) project of the South African deciduous fruit industry is on track and progressing well in the Langkloof. The JF is the commercialisation of emerging growers and an initiative by the Deciduous Fruit Development Chamber (DFDC). It…
By Mariette Kotzé A recent enquiry regarding how empowerment transactions work sparked this article. There are so many factors and variables to consider. It can be very complex or quite simple depending on your exposure and or understanding of business…
South African apples already compete successfully in international markets. How can the industry further improve fruit quality? By Anna Mouton. The experiences of some growers during the recent season again demonstrated how even slight post-harvest defects can lead to significant…
This extract serves to unpack the intensive year-long beekeeping management required to prepare for pollination as presented at the pollination webinar on 31 May 2022. Deciduous fruit, berry and seed plantings are expanding rapidly each year, driving the need for…