Managing macadamias: cutting back brings higher yields
Following rapid expansion between 2014 and 2019, most of South Africa’s macadamia nut orchards have reached maturity. The larger trees and denser orchards require a different approach to management in...
South Africa’s apple cultivars and new contenders
South Africa produces a wide range of apple cultivars, from export staples like Golden Delicious and Granny Smith to sweet varieties preferred across the continent. New cultivars are also gaining...
Growing and processing groundnuts can be lucrative
Over the years, Eduard Dreyer ventured into different markets to build his business’s resilience. Groundnuts, however, became a core part of his farming enterprise, so much so that he built...
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry’s humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the...
Cherry production in Gauteng: challenging, but possible
Growing cherries in a suboptimal climate requires manipulating trees and temperatures. But with a considerable market advantage, it is worth the effort. Lindi Botha visited ZZ2’s Toscana farm, which for...
Optimal macadamia production requires an investment in soil
Macadamia farming is a long-term investment that could keep paying off for decades to come if a solid foundation has been laid. Farmer Johan Swanepoel spoke to Lindi Botha about...
Blueberry production: a steep learning curve but worth the effort
Blueberries have been identified as an ideal crop for boosting agriculture’s contribution to South Africa’s gross domestic product. Given the labour-intensive nature of this crop and its lucrative export market,...
Why a dairy farm turned to producing pineapples
In 2019, dairy farmer Jonathan Willows and his business partner, Laine Collett, launched a pineapple operation on a dairy farm in the Eastern Cape. They spoke to Mike Burgess about...
From the corporate world to macadamia cultivation
With the support of his wife, Andrew Doré has changed his approach to macadamia farming by adopting organic practices. He spoke to Sinenhlanhla Mncwango about his farming experience, challenges, and...
Optimising stone fruit production with biological control
Featuring an array of delicious fruit from peaches to cherries, stone fruit is attractive to a variety of bugs that can be effectively controlled with integrated pest management, writes Zunel...
Pomegranates: easy to grow in the right climate
As unfussy as they come, pomegranates are a relatively easy crop to cultivate. With market conditions picking up, the fruit offers first-time, part-time and long-time farmers an attractive option should...
Pest and disease control under shade netting
As fruit-importing countries become increasingly intolerant of pest infestations and diseases posing phytosanitary risks and equally intolerant of the use of pesticides, South African fruit producers have had to revisit...
