Despite Covid-19 and a few tough drought years, the deciduous fruit industry has been blessed with exceptional harvests in every fruit category managed by Hortgro, after “near-perfect growing conditions”. Hortgro expects a record apple and pear harvest this season, despite…
By Grethe Bestbier ExperiCo Agri-Research Solutions is handing over its leadership reigns to Dr Ian Crouch, who has been appointed as new Managing Director. Crouch will take over this responsibility from Dr Johan Fourie, who is shifting his focus to…
By Pieter Arnold Smit, Kandas Cloete Over the past 5 years, the most significant growth in bearing area and area planted of stone fruit types arose from expansion in plum production. Production was set to recover from the drought of…
Prepared by Brian Berkman The last years have been challenging for one and all but, for Andre Cloete, a Tru-Cape apple and pear grower, near Greyton in the Western Cape’s Overberg region, it has been especially hard. “My wife Charmaine…
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…
The South African stone fruit industry is preparing for the 2025/2026 export season with optimism, thanks to favourable weather conditions during winter and blossoming, which led to good fruit set and fruit quality across most production regions. Overall export volumes…
The current pome fruit season is well underway after a later start, says Jacques du Preez, Hortgro General Manager: Trade & Markets. “The season so far is 7 – 10 days later than normal. This can be attributed to a…
This is the New Roots column, where we find out more about our peers in the deciduous fruit industry. What makes them tick? Next up is Liza Ambraal, shareholder and packhouse manager at Dwarsberg in Witzenberg near Ceres. Liza Ambraal…
NEW SERIES: AGRITOURISM AND BUSINESS INNOVATION IN THE DECIDUOUS FRUIT INDUSTRY Farming is ceaselessly evolving. At first, it was all about food for survival for the farmer and his family. Today, farming is big business. Scientifically and economically speaking. Yet,…
Why the deciduous-fruit industry must factor hydroclimate whiplash into long-term planning. By Anna Mouton. On average, the Earth has warmed by at least 1.5 °C, and, on average, South African pome- and stone-fruit growers can expect reduced winter chill, more…
Earlier this month the Global Cold Chain Alliance held a panel discussion in Cape Town about ‘Fire Risk Insurance Challenges for Refrigerated Warehouses’. The panel discussion was arranged to share information on property insurance and risk challenges related to fire…
The First International Symposium on Plant Propagation, Nursery Organisation and Management for the production of Certified Fruit Trees was held in Locorotondo (Bari) Italy. This ISHS (International Society for Horticultural Science) was attended by Hugh Campbell in his capacity as…