What lies ahead for the fresh produce sector?
Talking to market agents these days can be quite depressing. In the past, there were always people you could rely on to give you a more positive view of current issues on the markets or in the sector in general.
Planning for the planting season
Growing vegetables involves multi-tasking. I covered the importance of getting the timing right in my previous article.
Pride in potatoes
Stephan Fourie, who produces potatoes near Frankfort in the Free State, believes that three pillars support success in farming: an excellent product, sound management and good labour relations.
Precision farming a must for the future – O’Neill
Sugarcane farmer Brad O’Neill won the 2015 Nedbank Eston Show’s Farmer of the Year
and Best Milling Cane award in the category 10 000t to 20 000t delivered in the 2014 season.
Timing makes a big difference in farming
While working for a large seed company, I once had a chat with one of the directors, a financial fundi who contributed to steering the company in the right direction.
Lessons from Vito
Vito Rugani always used to say, “Remember the power of the brand!” A legend on the markets,
Why violent strikes?
I’m not privy to the inside story on the strikes experienced in the fruit sector recently. According to what I’ve read, Dutoit Group in the Western Cape and Umbhaba Bananas in Mpumalanga have been at the forefront of the current wave.
Reduce losses with this drought strategy
Fruit farmers in the Ceres Valley will have to manage their water strategically this season, as parts of the region received less than half the annual rainfall. Louis Reynolds of Fruitful Crop Advice provides some tips on reducing water losses.
Vegetable production in a competitive market
Growing vegetables is highly competitive, demanding and arguably the most difficult branch of agriculture in which to succeed, especially for new entrants.
The value of nets in citrus and table grape production
The farm Matroozefontein has the most westerly citrus orchards and table grape vineyards in Southern Africa. In this arid area, farming under nets has proved a success.
Ugly fruit and veg can be beautiful
The move to stock ‘almost perfect’ fruit and vegetables has for many years been an obsession in supermarkets abroad.
Better plant survival and germination in hot, dry conditions
Previously, I described how the high mineral content of borehole water could cause mineral build-up on leaf surfaces, with consequences for the application of chemicals.
Integrated systems for optimal results
All the production processes in the Uys family’s mixed farming enterprise, from grazing management to cash crops and cover crop production, occur in rotation to benefit one another as well as the soil.
Never a dull moment in the fresh produce sector!
I’ve often written in this column about how stimulating the fresh produce sector can be.
Growing in hot and dry conditions – Part 1
Here are some guidelines for growing vegetables under drought conditions.
Learn from history
Fresh produce markets have an interesting history. Go back more than 150 years and you’ll find a person called the market master who worked for the local municipality and also sold farmers’ produce by auction.
Secrets of a visionary fruit farmer
Western Cape fruit farmer Aat Hoekstra (85) recently received the South African fruit industry’s OSH Reinecke Industry Leader Award for 2015. The British Journal of Fresh Produce has also referred to him as South Africa’s fruit-breeding pioneer. He shared his wisdom with Glenneis Kriel.
There’s more to crop rotation than meets the eye
Just about every farmer would agree that crop rotation is a good thing – and the more diverse the crops in the rotation, the better.
The Karsten Group: International fruit giant
Recently named the Agricultural Writer of SA’s Farmer of the Year for 2015, Piet Karsten has built a farming empire on the Orange River, where some of SA’s top export fruit is grown. Susan Marais visited the Karsten Group’s headquarters in Kanoneiland in the Northern Cape to learn more.
The Codes of Best Practice (CoBP) for National Fresh Produce Markets
The ‘Codes of Best Practice (CoBP) for National Fresh Produce Markets’ prepared by the Project Rebirth Steering Committee (chaired by the department of agriculture) will bring our fresh produce markets in line with international standards.
