Our March South African fresh produce bulletin
In our March fresh produce market take we discuss prospects for another record South African citrus season, prospects for better market access in the current international world of Corona, progress with the grape variety, Joybells and the launch of a new branded apple...
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We are getting used to quieter times at the Goukou River
So much have been written about the unprecedented times we are living in. Here on the banks of the Goukou River on South Africa’s Southern Cape Coast it is no different – an eerie sort of quietness has settled around us. Almost like the build-up of summer thunder...
read moreTaking on new challenges – from Fredo’s pen!
Over the past two years Fredo and Janey commented much on our travels to research the history of South African table grapes. The coffee table book, The South African Table Grape Industry – 125 Years in Pursuit of Excellence, was finally published in May this year....
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Memories of special moment at pan in Etosha
Since our first day time in Etosha Fredo and Janey have always been sold on this beautiful wildlife sanctuary in Southern Africa. We are not, however, happy with this beautiful place being over-crowded by visitors at certain times of the year – especially from Europe...
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Chester and James will always hold special memories for us
The fact that Chester Williams and James Small, star wings of our 1995 World Cup winning rugby team, are no longer with us has greatly saddened Fredo. No-one who lived through those days will ever forget those days – the stately Nelson Mandela presiding over this...
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Old Jan Huppelbeen finds peace
Old Jan Huppelbeen’s spirit has become legendary at Riverside on the banks of the Goukou River near Stilbaai. Old Jan lived there many moons ago, before other people even dreamt of settling there. When he died, his spirit was left in a state of distress – the pain of...
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Could the humble Cape Hanepoot table grape be the first fruit ever eaten at the Cape?
We know that the Khoisan people roamed across the Cape regions for centuries before the first Europeans arrived at the Southern tip of Africa. We also know they were herdsmen, but they surely also ate berries and bulbs as they looked for food for their families....
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Fredo plays the imagine game in searching for the roots of our table grapes
So much have been said in recent years in South Africa about the origins of things we today regard as farily normal and part of our African lives. The debate is often focussed on what is regarded as South Africa’s ‘African’ orgigins and things that may have...
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Talk from the heart – 125 years – In Pursuit of Excellence
Fredo and Janey last week attended the launch of our book, 125 Years in Pursuit of Excellence, which we wrote during the past two years for the South African Table Grape Industry. At the event Fredo was asked to describe this epic journey. We thought we would share...
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What happens after next week in South Africa?
South Africans go to the polls next week in perhaps the most important election since 1994. While nationally politicians are bombarding South African voters with their election messages, it is really very quiet in the Southern Cape. At Stilbaai (which means a ‘quiet...
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