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.
Market agents and buyers
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...
Other important fungal leaf diseases in green beans
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.
Success for Mooketsi Market
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.
Behaviour at the markets
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...
Avoid bacterial diseases in green beans
Bacterial diseases are a menace to all crops, because unlike the case with fungal diseases, we have few means of controlling them.
