Deciduous Fruit Industry recently decided to award excellence for transformation efforts. Transformation Awards 2022 took place on 31 March at the Technopark Protea Hotel, Stellenbosch. Here is the speech by Hortgro Chairperson, Nicholas Dicey: HORTGRO, the national umbrella industry service…
On 31 March 2022, the Deciduous Fruit Industry (DFI) hosted the inaugural Transformation Awards gala dinner in Stellenbosch. A momentous evening where all the short-listed candidates swopped their overalls and Wellingtons for black tie attire. The event was jointly hosted…
Professor Karen Theron and Dr Mono Mashaba received the Hortgro 1662 Industry Award at an event held in Stellenbosch recently. This is the fourth year that the industry recognizes industry titans with the 1662 Award. Previous recipients of the 1662…
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…
Langkloof Representative: Neil-Pierre Strydom The Langkloof had an above-average harvest this year. For the first time in years, all farmers had enough water in their dams to see the season through. On the Western side of the Kloof, rain decreased…
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…
By Kara van der Berg Agriculture is the place to be. The sector has great opportunities, funding, and is the place where future leaders are grown. This was the inspirational message to agriculture students at the Hortgro bursary function that…
Die Suid-Afrikaanse sagtevrugtebedryfsorganisasie, Hortgro, hou die gespanne situasie in Oos-Europa fyn dop. Die bedryf neem kennis van die opskorting van finansiële dienste (SWIFT), asook wêreldwye ekonomiese sanksies wat teen Rusland ingestel is gegewe dat dit bepaalde logistieke en betalings risiko’s…
Stealing fruit might sound like mischief. It has, however, become a massive threat to an industry worth billions. By Gerrit Rautenbach I remember those late nights slipping out of the school res, making a beeline for oom Hendrik’s orchards. The…
SIZA (Sustainability Initiative of South Africa ) Social and Environmental standards were benchmarked against the Rainforest Alliance standard. The purpose of the benchmark was to identify the similarities and differences between the SIZA standards and the Rainforest Alliance 2020 Standard.…
By Kara van der Berg Education is a basic human right enshrined in the South African constitution. However, children of farmworkers often struggle to access schools, owing to a range of factors, including the distance of farms from schools, the…
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…