Load shedding and dispensation for loadout temperatures for apples and winter pears have been a major concern for the pome fruit industry. Now, in a pro-active step, the Packhouse Action Group (PAG) load shedding workgroup met recently to discuss the impact…
By Eddie Vienings and Dianca Yssel South Africa is a water scarce region of the world, receiving 40% less precipitation than the global annual average. The implications of this have become clearly evident in recent times – with almost all…
Deur Elise-Marie Steenkamp “Produsente het dikwels nie beheer oor wat buite hul plase gebeur nie. Daarom moet hulle ’n positiewe ingesteldheid oor die toekoms hê, want as daardie boompie in die grond gesit word weet ons dit is nog vyf…
Increasing difficulties with specifically fire insurance are giving many fruit industry stakeholders a headache. Alarming concerns include trends such as insurance policy cancellations or non-renewals and tripled premium rates for those seeking new policies; insurance companies willing to cover high-risk…
By Elise-Marie Steenkamp Just as the logistical chain was recovering after the unrest mayhem, Transnet was hit by a cyberattack that brought the major South African ports in Cape Town, Gqeberha, and Durban to a virtual standstill. Transnet declared a…
The Interpera International Pear Congress took place in Tours, France from the 25th to 27th of June 2019. This congress was organized by AREFLH (Assembly of European Horticultural Regions) and the French Apple and Pear Association. The Congress included a…
By Carmé Naudé Bolzano, Italy – “Conscious decisions in all aspects of cultivation and production with the eye on the consumer of the future,” – this was the key message to delegates at Interpoma 2018. This 11th apple trade which…
By Elise-Marie Steenkamp Hortgro’s 2026 Bursary Function celebrates the young people shaping the industry’s next chapter There is a particular kind of optimism that runs through South African agriculture — the belief that no matter how hard a season has…
HORTGRO Science recently held an Irrigation Seminar at Allée Bleue in Groot Drakenstein. The seminar was held to address the current drought conditions in the Western Cape, and to provide producers with coping strategies. To view all the complete presentations,…
A 2019 survey found just 24% of South African farmers are hosting some form of agritourism on their farms. That means there’s a massive opportunity for expansion in this area. Agritourism could help farmers use their farm resources to their…
Get it identified at Blue Bug Diagnostic Service. By Anna Mouton Effective pest control starts with knowing exactly what you are fighting. Incorrect assessment of the cause of damage can lead to expensive errors in pest management. This risk is…
