The 2021 Confronting Climate Change (CCC) Benchmark Reports show the main contributors to CO2 emissions over a 9-year period.
Open the pome fruit report here. Open the stone fruit report here.
The 2022 International Horticultural Congress
South Africans share highlights of the largest horticultural congress in the world. By Anna Mouton. Every four years, the International Horticultural Congress (IHC) is held by the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS). The ISHS is a global network of…
The 2026 Hortgro Awards Celebrate Excellence in the South African Deciduous Fruit Industry
Somerset West — The annual Hortgro Awards brought together leading figures from the pome and stone fruit industry on Friday, 11 September 2026, for an evening of celebration at the Lord Charles in Somerset West. This year’s function introduced two…
The 2026 South African Pome Fruit Industry heading into a dynamic season
The 2025 apple export season ended at a high of 49.6 million equivalent cartons (12.5 kg). The initial estimate for the 2026 export season indicates a 5% increase in volumes, bringing expected apple exports to 52.2 million equivalent cartons. The…
The blockhouse experience
Agritourism series: A special attraction on La Plaisante near Wolseley. By Gerrit Rautenbach. Between 1900 and 1901the British built two blockhouses next to two railway bridges close to the town of Wolseley. In 1920, only 19 years later, Leicester Dicey,…
The case for decarbonising exports
Developed countries increasingly penalise carbon-intensive trading partners in developing economies. By Anna Mouton “The carbon budget of the world — the total amount of carbon we can emit if we want to limit global warming to 1.5 °C — is…
The chronicles of the travelling pear
Written by Grethe Bestbier One Forelle pear, a strange looking lump, a funny smell, and 1 506 kilometers. This is the story of a single pear’s journey across the country and one company’s dedication to science and the deciduous fruit…
The development of Learning and Development
By Gerrit Rautenbach Johann Engelbrecht, a skills development guru in agriculture, has been the Skills Planning Manager of the AgriSETA as well as Chief Operating Officer, amongst a host of other achievements. With Anton Rabe also being on the…
The development of the Fruit Workers’ Development Trust
Over the last five years, it has become clear that focusing on the positive yields even better life skills outcomes for farm workers. By Gerrit Rautenbach The Fruit Workers’ Development Trust (FWDT) is a 100% BEE entity, as defined by…
The DNA of caring
“Uithou, aanhou en bekhou!” – Irene Cillié. On 16 May this year the family and extended farm family of Laastedrif and surrounds said goodbye to Irene Cillié, the mother of many. On that same day her son, Rossouw, custodian of…
The Evolution of a Farm
After 10 generations of the Van der Merwes’ custodianship, Boplaas in the Koue Bokkeveld not only is home to the oldest family business but, is one of the most exquisite fruit producers in SA. By Gerrit Rautenbach In 1743 Izak…
The first lady of Ou Stasie
Where Mitchell’s Pass begins, just outside the town of Wolseley, you’ll find the farm Ou Stasie on your right. Peaches, pears, nectarines, and plums. It is on this farm, 41 years ago that a remarkable woman was born. Fortune favours…