Vegetables

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...

No-till is highly practical for small-scale vegetable farmers and organic farmers, while conventional commercial vegetable growers will find some aspects of the practice useful.

I suppose that being in the fresh produce business makes it inevitable that I classify markets according to their size – not unlike potatoes or certain fruit.

No-till farmers have always known that leaving a layer of crop residue on the soil surface increases the humus content.

To achieve a HACCP (Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points) accreditation is costly.

When making permanent beds, a farmer should take into account tractor traffic.

I heard a new proposal recently from a distinguished ‘market man’ whose opinion I rate highly.

No-till vegetable production is not practical for everyone and is more suited to the small-scale organic farmer.

Last week, I wrote about the 70th birthday celebrations of the Institute of Market Agents of South Africa (Imasa) and predicted that it would be ‘an affair to remember’.

Many types of organisms affect the quality and health of our soil.

I recently was in Bloemfontein with the Institute of Market Agents of South Africa (Imasa) to celebrate its 70th birthday.

Of all soil organisms, earthworms can be by far the largest component by weight. Their benefits are generally insufficiently appreciated by farmers.

Last week, I wrote about the impressive new markets being established in Namibia.

It may surprise many farmers that not all nematodes (eelworms) are harmful to crops.

As I write this, I’m midway through a two-week training programme at the Ongwediva Fresh Produce Business Hub (OFPBH) in the north of Namibia, en route to Angola.

The name ‘mycorrhiza’ (a combination of two Greek words meaning ‘fungus’ and ‘roots’) is unlikely to ring a bell with most farmers as its use has been promoted only recently.

As I write, the markets are awash with produce. Prices have tumbled in many cases. Our mild winter has resulted in extended production periods for some crops, which has meant...

Each group of organisms living in the soil has a different function and these organisims’ interaction with one another should create a balance that benefits plants.

Fresh produce markets and their agents face a multitude of challenges and it’s inevitable that comment on the market floor will be vociferous.

Healthy ‘living’ soil can contain up to 15t/ha of bacteria, actinomycetes, protozoa, algae, fungi, nematodes, earthworms and arthropods.