From fairytales to great works of art, the perfect red apple is a placeholder for a wide range of human emotions. With its recent improvements, the Fuji variety is set to continue its rise. Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, the largest exporter…
The Jobs Fund Project on track: The technical advisor took one look at the sad trees in front of him. “Remove the old wood from the trees,” he commanded. Ricardo du Preez did not question him. He realised that to…
Dr Ilse Trautmann, Deputy Director General: Agricultural Research and Regulatory Services, Western Cape Department of Agriculture, delivered a keynote address at a CropLife Information Day held in December last year. Here is a summary of Dr Trautmann’s speech. In an…
The South African stone fruit industry continues to demonstrate that strong export performance and responsible production go hand in hand. As the 2025/26 stone fruit season unfolds, early compliance data indicate a sector that not only meets international social and…
Focus on women in agriculture: Words: Carmé Naudé The saying goes, behind every man, there is a strong woman, and within agriculture, there are multiple strong forces to be reckoned with. One such force is Retha Louw the CEO of…
Ricard Myburgh, a 27-year old apple and pear farmer from Vyeboom in the Western Cape, received the Young Entrepreneur Award from the Jobs Fund last week. Myburgh, who has been farming on the family farm, Cortina Farms, for the past…
Richard Hurndall recently received the Hortgro Chairman’s Award for 35 years of service to the industry. He is also a squash master and believes in work-life balance. Elise-Marie Steenkamp spoke to him shortly before his retirement. “We need you to…
Hortgro Agritourism Series Driving from Worcester to Ceres on the R43 would just not be the same without Rietdakkie Farmstall offering a great stop-over. It seems like it’s been there forever. But it almost didn’t make it. Until famous artist,…
Population exposure to heat is increasing due to climate change, and this trend will continue. Globally, extreme temperature events are observed to be increasing in their frequency, duration, and magnitude. Between 2000 and 2016, the number of people exposed to…
Planting uncertified trees can lead to unforced errors. By Anna Mouton. Plant improvement is to orchard establishment what eating broccoli is to your health: boring but effective. But many growers probably don’t incorporate enough of either. Whereas we don’t have…
Deur Grethe Bestbier ’n Familie wat vroue respekteer Die boeregemeenskap is ’n spesiale familie, het IPV Hoof Uitvoerende Beampte Wiehahn Victor gesê by ’n tegniese inlingtingsdag vir vrugteprodusente wat onlangs deur die Inmaakvrugte Produsente Vereniging en Hortgro Stone aangebied is…
The most compelling argument to get vaccinated is that we all want to go back to the world we had 20 months ago. And we want to stop loved ones, colleagues from dying. Lastly, we want to save economies. This,…