WITTE WIJNAPPEL BACK IN COMPANY’S GARDEN

Company’s Garden reclaims a piece of its history

The return of the first apple tree planted in the iconic Company’s Garden in the late 1650s is a remarkable story, made possible through a partnership between Tru-Cape, Hortgro and the Cape Heritage Fund. Read more below:
More than a decade ago, Tru-Cape Quality Assurance Manager, Henk Griessel and his colleague, Buks Nel who is the company’s New Variety Expert started researching the history of apples which culminated in a book entitled ‘Apples in the Early Days at The Cape’.
According to historical records, the Witte Wijnappel was the first apple picked in the Company’s Garden on 17 April 1662.

What happened to the tree between 1662 and today?

After a period of exhaustive research, the duo tracked down the Witte Wijnappel tree in the Netherlands. Budwood of the Witte Wijnappel from which a new tree could be grown was imported, and after a considerable period in quarantine, is ready for planting.

‘This is a remarkable story and the City is so honoured to be a part of it. It reminds us once more of
the rich heritage of the Company’s Garden, but also the importance of the fruit industry. The Witte Wijnappel tree will take its place among other heritage varieties at the axis of the irrigation channel in the Company’s Garden, said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.
The tree-planting ceremony is not coincidental, as Tru-Cape notes and celebrates 17 April as the official birth of the apple industry.
‘The replanting of the Witte Wijnappel is a historic moment in the South African fruit industry and so it is fitting that it happened on this particular day. It would not have been possible without the extensive efforts of Henk Griessel and Buks Nel who are passionate about what they do and veterans in the industry and we are extremely proud of their work,’ said Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing Managing Director, Roelf Pienaar.
‘We are really proud to be part in this initiative to bring the historical plant material back to South African soil. With this gesture, we are honouring the founding roots of the apple industry some 357 years ago. Today, the impact on and contribution of the apple industry to the modern rural economies of the Western Cape and the rest of the country is vast. We contribute to rural development by creating more than 61 000 jobs and a further 243 649 dependents are impacted by the success of the industry. The industry ensures food security, infrastructure development, and foreign trade. The industry has a global standing and is considered a leading player with regards to the quality and taste of our products, ethical trade, and environmentally sustainable production practices,’ added Hortgro’s Executive Director Anton Rabe.

The City of Cape Town, Tru-Cape, Hortgro, and the Cape Heritage Fund will collectively manage
the maintenance and development of the apple tree.

Caption: Photographed here at the planting of the tree are Brandon Golding, Zahid Badroodien, Buks Nel, Henk Griessel, Frederik Voigt and Nicholas Dicey.