Vegetables

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.

In the previous issue, we discussed the fact that beet cyst eelworm is impossible to eradicate once it is established on a land.

Driving into the Cape Town or Port Elizabeth markets, you will see rows of people selling apples, oranges, potatoes and other products.

The cyst nematode (eelworm) get its name from the hardened cyst that it forms to protect its eggs.

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...

Of the pests that damage beans, perhaps the best known is the bollworm.

Market agents are taught from day one that the producer is their main client – and rightly so. It’s the producer who pays their commission. But what about the other...

The most well-known fungal disease in beans is rust (Uromyces phaseoli). But it has become less of a problem due mainly to the emergence of resistant bean varieties.

I recently made my third visit to the relatively new Mooketsi Regional Market north-east of Polokwane in Limpopo, and came away almost in awe.

I often chuckle inwardly when I’m on a market floor listening to a negotiation between the salesperson and a buyer. The exchange frequently differs dramatically from what I teach about...

Bacterial diseases are a menace to all crops, because unlike the case with fungal diseases, we have few means of controlling them.

Given the high cost of labour, using chemicals is the only realistic option for weed control in most crops.

In the Farmer’s Weekly of 17 April 2015 there is an article on the new complaint process envisaged for consumers of agricultural products.

Harvesting is one of the big expenses in bean production and consequently needs to be done efficiently.

The relationship between producer and market agent remains at the core of a fresh produce market.

Although beans are generally a quick and easy crop to grow, problems can occur before the plant emerges.

Recently, I wrote about the eight marketing options available to a fresh produce farmer and the need for these to give value for money.

Beans are a quick, easy crop – provided all the precautions are taken.

A few years ago, there was a flurry of interest from Namibia, Mozambique and Botswana, among others, to establish fresh produce markets.

Green bean farming in South Africa has changed considerably over the past twenty years or so. Not long ago, beans were planted and weeded by hand.