Pome Fruit
Grabouw's Stephan Beukes named Western Cape Farmer of the Year
Stephan Beukes of Dennegeur Farms in Grabouw has been named 2026 Western Cape Farmer of the Year, recognised for growing export performance and rebuilding quickly after the 2023 floods while investing in people and sustainability.
Tru-Cape reports strong Pink Lady growth in UK and European markets
South African Pink Lady apple exports continue to strengthen in Europe, with Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing reporting sharp growth in shipments since 2020 and more than 16% growth in UK retail volumes this season. The performance highlights the importance of branded cultivars and reliable counter-seasonal supply for South African apple exporters competing in mature northern hemisphere markets.
Hortgro Awards Honour Industry Leaders as Anton Rabe Steps Down After 38 Years
Hortgro honoured researchers, transformation leaders and sustainability pioneers at its 2026 Awards in Somerset West, and marked the retirement of long-serving Executive Director Anton Rabe after 38 years.
South Africa is well established as a leading Southern Hemisphere Pink Lady® apple producer
South Africa has firmly established itself as a frontrunner producer of Pink Lady® apples in the Southern Hemisphere. With an annual output of approximately 5 million cartons, the country is a major player from the Southern Hemisphere, competing with Chile, New Zealand, and Australia for Northern Hemisphere markets. This achievement is the result of strategic […]
Hortgro Honours Lucentlands Media With 2026 Izithelo Award for Deciduous Fruit Journalism
Hortgro has awarded its 2026 Izithelo Media Award to Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie of Lucentlands Media, recognising their podcast coverage of South Africa's pome and stone fruit industry.
Stellenbosch postharvest scientist Dr Elke Crouch wins 2026 Daan Strydom Science and Technology Award from Hortgro
Dr Elke Crouch of Stellenbosch University has won the 2026 Daan Strydom Science and Technology Award. The award recognises more than two decades of postharvest research on apple and pear quality, which the citation calls central to the reliability of South African deciduous fruit exports.
Cosmic Crisp enters South African retail sector as Checkers secures the excluse rights to this club variety
South Africa’s first commercial crop of Cosmic Crisp apples has reached the local market, introducing another internationally licensed club variety into the country’s deciduous-fruit sector.