Vegetables

To many farmers and market agents, price is all that matters. Of course price is important, but these days there’s a lot more to the equation.

I’ve met a few senior people in the fresh-produce sector who don’t know what plant breeders’ rights (PBRs) are.

At a recent conference, Tommie van Zyl, CEO of the ZZ2 group, talked about the agency system being a good ‘enabler’, and his remarks got me thinking.

Choosing the right type of onion can be difficult, as the variety has to suit both the area and the planting seasons.

Regular readers of this column will know that I am strongly opposed to political interference in markets.

One of the challenges of growing onions is getting the planting date right. Farmers unfamiliar with this crop would expect to plant it earlier in cool areas and later in...

One of the basic tenets of good marketing is to always ensure you have your product available and in front of the buyer’s eyes. Admittedly, that’s easier said than done,...

Congratulations to Durban market for introducing the ‘cash deposit device’. The first of its kind in a South African market, this enables buyers to deposit cash directly into their accounts...

Records show that people have been harvesting onions for about 7 000 years. The Egyptians were cultivating them around 3500BC, and used onions to treat many medical conditions.

Warren Buffet, one of the world’s richest men, is reputed to have said: “Look for three things in a person – intelligence, energy and integrity. If they don’t have the...

The recent announcement that aphids and not leaf hoppers are the vector for the spread of the brassica stunting disorder virus (BSD) makes sense.

As noted last issue, the old control boards called the shots when it came to determining prices, because they also determined supply.

It is sometimes advisable to treat seed in order to remove a pathogen, or as a precaution before sowing. For example, capsicums (chillies and peppers) often suffer from bacterial spot,...

The old control boards in the fresh produce sector did good work in some areas, but ended up with a rather dismal record in other aspects.

Germination is influenced by various factors, starting with the temperature of the growing medium.

I was delighted to read Wilma den Hartigh’s interview with Deon van Zyl on tactics to achieve successful sales on markets.

There is no single ‘ideal’ method for growing seedlings successfully and economically – conditions vary too much – but there are guidelines that can help a newcomer get it right...

I wrote my first column for Farmer’s Weekly 15 years ago and today I’m about to embark on #750.

Some farmers think that seedlings should not be kept too long because they will not be as productive. They are partly right, but age matters less than physiological development.

At a recent Potatoes South Africa (PSA) information day, I learnt a number of facts about our favourite vegetable (and the biggest-selling crop on our fresh produce markets).