Welgemeen Boerdery in the Western Cape has emerged as the top performer at the annual Ceres Fruit Growers (CFG) Awards, securing the coveted overall excellence award. The farm also received the first-ever Buks Nel floating trophy for its outstanding performance with the BigBucks Gala apple variety, along with additional accolades for Golden Delicious, Abate Fetel, and Mahana Red apples.
Hannes Hanekom manages the farm with his brother, Sakkie, and says their recent success is attributed to favourable climatic conditions and a focus on meticulous farming practices.
“We had a great winter, ample chill units, and sufficient water. The absence of extreme weather events allowed us to pay close attention to the finer details that impact fruit quality,” he said.
Taking risks pays off
Welgemeen Boerdery, which spans approximately 200 hectares, primarily cultivates apples, with pears and onions also forming part of its diversified production strategy. Situated in the Witzenberg Valley, the farm benefits from its high-altitude location, which is ideal for apple cultivation.
As an early adopter of the BigBucks Gala variety, the Hanekoms have refined their approach to harvesting.
“Instead of a single harvest, we make multiple passes through the orchard to ensure each apple is picked at peak ripeness. This strategy, combined with the application of growth regulators to delay maturation, has resulted in excellent pack-outs and minimal rejections,” Hanekom said.
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Their farm was among the first in South Africa to cultivate Abate Fetel pears, following a visit to Europe by Izak Hanekom in the 1990s.
“We took a calculated risk in planting the variety on BA29 rootstock, which was initially met with scepticism. However, our approach has since gained widespread acceptance,” Hanekom said.
The farm’s partnership with CFG and Tru-Cape has provided access to industry-leading resources, including trial blocks for testing new apple varieties. Hanekom is particularly optimistic about Inored-Story apples, which have demonstrated high yields and strong market potential.
“Advancements such as computerised irrigation, real-time weather monitoring, and precision farming tools help us optimise production,” Hanekom said.
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