Why top brands sell
Winter came late this year and the impact on the markets has been almost disastrous for many products.
Know your soil – Part 5: the value of phosphorous
Continuing with our discussion of the soil analysis, we now come to phosphorous (P).
Why does Tshwane Market want to reinvent the wheel?
South Africa’s fresh produce commission markets have a number of unique features that set them apart from other markets around the world.
Know your soil – Part 3
As a soil’s fertility and condition improve, so the value of the soil increases dramatically. Generally, the price per hectare of farmland does not vary much across a region, but...
Banana wars?
Shortly after the Second World War, a ‘Banana War’ erupted between the small producer countries in the Caribbean and the supermarkets, which were starting to flex their buying muscle.
Know your soil – Part 2
If you have a proper understanding of the soil on your farm, you will be able to farm more efficiently – and get more enjoyment from farming.
Zimbabwean farmers make do, regardless
I recently visited Harare with Prof Charles Whitehead from the University of Johannesburg for a two-day Banana Ripening and Post-harvest Physiology workshop for the employees of a large Zimbabwe-based farming...
Vegetables back in vogue
In the 6 June issue of FreshPlaza.com, I came across an article entitled ‘The rise of Africa’s super vegetables’. “Indigenous vegetables are in vogue,” it said. “As people throughout East...
More on controlling powdery mildew in peppers
I wrote a column on powdery mildew in peppers some months ago, but would now like to address this important subject more fully.
Biofumigation using an eelworm trap crop
Apart from reducing cyst eelworm, planting trap crops has other advantages.
Understanding how the market operates
I’ve always defended the producer’s right to market his produce as he sees fit. If this includes supplying direct to a supermarket, that’s fine. For a large producer, not having...
Beat cyst eelworm with trap crops
An integrated approach to controlling cyst eelworm usually produces the best results, but using a trap crop is perhaps the single most important method.
Dealing with direct sales – at last!
Over the years, I’ve listened to market people bemoaning the fact that producers supply direct to supermarkets.
History of the market agent
The advent of market agents in South Africa goes back to the mid-1800s, when farmers became unhappy with the service provided by the market masters.
Beet cyst eelworm: the chemical option
In the previous issue, we discussed the fact that beet cyst eelworm is impossible to eradicate once it is established on a land.
Undermining the market
Driving into the Cape Town or Port Elizabeth markets, you will see rows of people selling apples, oranges, potatoes and other products.
Learning to live with the beet cyst nematode
The cyst nematode (eelworm) get its name from the hardened cyst that it forms to protect its eggs.
Gathering momentum for the markets
There was a time, more than 50 years ago, when fresh produce markets enjoyed a market share of 80% or more. This is an ‘educated guess’ based on my own...
Some important green bean pests
Of the pests that damage beans, perhaps the best known is the bollworm.
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