Members of the Under 40s – a networking group for the upcoming generation of fruit growers – will, in just a few weeks, be swapping chilly orchards of the UK for warmer climes when they fly out to South Africa on 26 February.
The trip is the most ambitious ever planned by the group, and as well as being a suitable way of marking its 50th anniversary year, it will ensure the group can learn as much as possible about the way things are done in another part of the world. The fifty strong group – by no means a small feat to organise – are made up of mainly growers with support from the trade whose contributions and involvement make the trip possible.
The jam packed itinerary includes visits to extremely large growers such as the 300,000 bins of fruit produced by one grower in the Hermanus area as well as an estate set on some 4,000ha of land in Stellenbosch, through to smaller but profitable enterprises of 35ha. The group will be staying in suitable surroundings for a fruit conference, within the grounds of a commercial vineyard.
A full report will be published in the April Edition of South East Farmer, with photos uploaded to our Facebook page week commencing 6 March. The Under 40s event coverage in South East Farmer has been made possible by the support of N P Seymour, Haynes, Landseer and Partners In Produce.
