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…
A new Hortgro-funded initiative will extract more value from existing research investment. By Anna Mouton. South Africa has been called a world in one country partly thanks to our diverse natural environment. This might be great for tourists but poses…
Provar’s well-known fruit tastings showcase the latest cultivars and selections that belong to IP representatives and fruit breeders. The fruit tasting provides an opportunity for industry and consumers to taste, discuss and see the samples, simultaneously Provar gains valuable insight…
Consumers want uniformly dark green Granny Smith apples without blemishes. What light environment in the canopy will produce this result? Granny Smith is among the top three apple cultivars planted in South Africa, accounting for 13% of the total area…
By Jacques du Preez A second black swan event in two years and the impact thereof was completely unforeseen, dramatic, and severe. The industry was faced with fruit in transit prior to the war starting as well as further shipments…
In this column about the history of apple varieties in South Africa, we will investigate and explore why some varieties succeed and others disappear. The column will consist of extracts taken from a book by Henk Griessel and Buks Nel,…
By Elise-Marie Steenkamp Before she blew out her first birthday candle, Faith Nogemane’s life story is straight from a Hollywood script. She was born, 25 years ago as the last of her mother, Ellie’s six children – who at that…