HORTGRONEWS
VOLUME 15
ISSUE 14
26 april 2017
GROWING FRUIT IQ
Contents
Game of Fruit – HORTGRO Science Technical Symposium 2017
Aagtenappel: SA's Ancient Apple Tree
New Variety: Flaring Beauty Introduced
D'agen Crèche Stays Pillar in Tulbagh
Encourage Farm Workers to Enter Agri's Got Talent
Greyton Grower Uplifts Staff
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SHAFFE – Improving Fruit Supply
A bug's life... In A Warmer Climate
Fruitlook for More Efficient Water Use
Stone Fruit Finds Favour With SA Consumers
Spotlight On HORTGRO Management Service
From the Executive Director's Desk
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Game of fruit –­ HORTGRO SCIENCE
TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM 2017
The HORTGRO Science Technical Symposium is a
flagship event on the deciduous fruit calendar. The
focus and objectives of the symposium are to expose
industry to new innovations, create a platform for the
exchange of ideas, showcase the latest research and
development, create an opportunity for interaction
across the value chain, foster the integration of new
entrants into the industry and provide a chance to meet
with your peers in the industry. Register for this event
before 26 May 2017 here: http://bit.ly/2p8BmiS
Aagtenappel: SA's ancient apple tree
(From left to right) Buks Nel, Brian Berkman and Henk Griessel from Tru-Cape who want to
preserve ancient apple and pear varieties.
A moss covered tree on top of Table Mountain, is
believed to be over 100 years old and according to
experts could possibly be the Aagtenappel, one of the
ancient varieties planted at the Cape of Good Hope.
The tree was accidentally discovered after a threeyear search by Buks Nel and Henk Griessel from TruCape. They are also the force behind the planting of
the Heritage Orchard, at Oak Valley Estate in Grabouw.
Although the tree is definitely very old one would need
to conduct tests to say exactly how old it is. Read the
full story here: http://bit.ly/2oL20NZ
new variety: flaring beauty introduced
A new red pear attracted attention in April, when it
was officially introduced to the industry. The deep
red-coloured pear currently known as Dpp1 is an
attractive mutation of the Forelle pear variety. Dpp1
was discovered on Henri du Plessis's farm near Prince
Alfred Hamlet in Ceres. Peter Allderman from Topfruit
says it is an interesting variety as it displays a strong
red blush, sweet flavour, and is harvested quite late in
the season. Dpp1 is on the South African Variety list ,
and is available to growers as a bi-colour replacement
to current varieties. Read more: http://bit.ly/2phl9Ih
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D'agen crèche stays pillar in tulbagh
In Tulbagh farmworkers do not have to worry about their
children's safety while they are at work.
The D'Agen crèche has been looking after farm
workers' little ones for the past 26 years. In 1991 the
Tulbagh Farmworkers Trust established the crèche
after producers in the region realised their workers had
nowhere to leave their children while at work. The crèche
is still being run by the Trust. D'Agen's learners range
from ages six months to six years, and receive all the
necessary skills needed before reaching Grade 1. Read
more: http://bit.ly/2p37AOe
Picture: Drisa du Toit, D'Agen crèche's manager, with some of the learners.
Encourage Farm workers to enter
Agri's got talent
The countdown to Agri's got Talent 2017 is heating
up with only two weeks left until entries close. The
contest which is presented by HORTGRO, the VinPro
Foundation and the Western Cape Department of
Agriculture, gives agricultural workers with musical
talent the opportunity to rise above their everyday
work. Finalists will receive voice and stage coaching
as well as life-skills training. Previous competition
finalists have proven to be true ambassadors for their
farms and communities. Visit agrisgottalent.com for
more information.
Picture: Hermiena Hendricks, 2016 Top 10 finalist, from Moutons Valley in Piket-Bo-Berg.
Greyton grower uplifts staff
According to recently awarded New Harvest apple
and pear grower, Andre Cloete (pictured), he knows
the high cost of living and does everything he can to
assist his staff to make ends meet. "We pay everything
for them on the farm: electricity, water and rent and
we encourage them to plant vegetable gardens to
become more self-sufficient," Cloete says. During
harvesting season, Cloete brings in people from The
Ark’s New Jerusalem: a drug and alcohol restoration
centre in Eersterivier to work on the farm. "They know
nothing about picking or farming and we provide
them with the skills and equipment."
Read the full story here: http://bit.ly/2owKOL4
shaffe – improving fruit supply
The Southern Hemisphere provides counterseasonal
supply and value for the northern markets. The
combination of Southern hemisphere climatic
conditions allows for the production of a broad range of
fruits, among them signature products such as apples,
pears, table grapes, and citrus fruit. An essential part
of this is constant self-reflection and benchmarking.
SHAFFE encourages the exchange of experience and
continuous debate among its membership about the
most urgent topics of our industry – making fruit supply
better, faster and safer. Learn more: www.shaffe.net
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a Bug's life... In a warmer climate
According to a new study by researchers from the
University of Sheffield in England, insects feel the
effects of climate change even at modest temperature
increases. Even just a modest rise in temperature affects
the insects' ability to reproduce. But how does this
relate to our own agricultural industry? There are some
links with our own research, says Matthew Addison,
HORTGRO Science’s Crop Protection Manager. "We
have to be mindful that with a warmer climate comes
new pest distributions and this could have a significant
effect on agriculture." Read more: http://bit.ly/2q63WUX
Fruitlook for more efficient water use
The face of agriculture and natural resource
management is changing with satellites and remote
sensing playing an increased role to inform decision
making. We look at how a service called FruitLook
is strategically placed to help support local fruit
producers, and agriculture in general, on their journey
towards more efficient water use.
FruitLook is an online tool that helps growers improve
yields and save resources by helping growers monitor
their crops and optimising their irrigation protocols.
Read more here: http://bit.ly/2qdDJAk
Stone fruit finds favour with South
African consumers
More than 50% of the peaches and nectarines
produced in South Africa are destined for the local
market and during summer these fruit are very popular
among all market segments. In general, however,
South Africans aren’t yet large fruit consumers. “Our
goal is to increase the sale of stone fruit with current
consumers, but also to expand the market and gain
new consumers,” says HORTGRO's Jacques du Preez.
He adds that the industry would like to introduce
consumers to the new varieties that are available.
Read the full story on freshplaza.com here:
http://bit.ly/2oHsqjB
Spotlight on Hortgro management
services
Over the next few months we will highlight some of the
programmes and projects at HORTGRO. This month we
showcase Louis van Zyl, HORTGRO’s General Manager,
and his team who do great work for the deciduous
industry. Van Zyl who has been at the administrative
and financial helm of HORTGRO for just over 19 years
says that over the past two decades he has seen it all.
“HORTGRO has grown from a voluntary levy funding
system, with difficult funding periods including a time
where loans from its members kept the boat afloat, to
a stable industry support structure it is today." Read
more: http://bit.ly/2pyIQ1N
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The Confronting Climate Change project is offering three different "carbon footprint"
workshops. To learn more or to register, visit: http://bit.ly/2q2hsJe
from THe executive director's desk
Right things, doing the right things right, and doing the right thing
Some months ago I wrote about the current world order being quite unstable and unpredictable.
I speculated on the potential further destabilisation that elections in Western Europe can add
to the mix following on Brexit and the US election late last year.
Thus far it seems as if some sanity may actually prevail following on centrists being elected in
the Netherlands and the French elections seemingly following a similar route. Closer to home,
the recent stone fruit strategic session however, again highlighted the immense diversity and
complexity of our industry and the ever changing environment within which we operate.
As an industry service body, HORTGRO as a collective, continuously remind ourselves that we
cannot be everything to everybody. That we need to continue our focus on issues where we can
make the biggest difference, to enable our primary stakeholders – the investing and risk-taking
producer - to operate their businesses as optimally and profitably as possible.
At the least we reconfirmed that we are busy with the right things.
The challenge remains to do these right things correctly in a continuously changing environment
where change seems the only constant and the only certainty. We certainly do have enough risks,
whether climate related, or economic given the volatile and highly competitive global markets.
What we don’t need (and certainly don’t deserve as country) is the unacceptable uncertainties
that is being created within the political and policy environment. It seems as if virtually everything
needs to be tested legally – but is still being ignored – and where doing the right thing with
honour and integrity, seems beyond the comprehension of public office and its officers.
While we conclude the harvesting season under very adverse production conditions in the South
Western part of the country, my sincere wish and prayer is that winter with good rains will start
soon. Another uncertainty we have certainly had enough of.
"When nothing is sure, everything is possible." - Margaret Drabble
‒ Anton Rabe
general enquiries
Editorial Committee
[email protected]
www.hortgro.co.za
tel 021 870 2900
fax 021 870 2915
Elise-Marie Steenkamp ‒ [email protected]
Esté Beerwinkel ‒ [email protected]
Dane McDonald ‒ [email protected]
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