Peppadew court battle finally over

A long court battle over the right to grow peppadews has ended in favour of Piquante International, the owner of the licensed Peppadew brand and the industry’s dominant player. The Appeals Court’s decision could affect farmers in Limpopo and other areas where the fruit is grown, because they could now be farming it illegally. But Peppadew International’s marketing manager, Phil Ovens, says he would consider licensing some farmers as suppliers. About 80% of the Peppadew brand’s turnover is derived from exports to the UK, US and EU. The court battle was extended because there’s little precedent for plant breeder law. According to the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act, only the rights-holder can license a third party, or grow, sell, export, import or stock the Piquante variety. – Staff reporter