As the largest exporter of South African apples and pears, Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing maintains a heritage orchard of apple and pear varieties that are no longer in commercial production. Each year, this orchard is opened to the public for a guided walkabout in the company of Tru-Cape’s Quality Manager and biologist, Henk Griessel and Buks Nel. Nel is the 2019 national Agriculturist of the Year.
The Agricultural Writer’s Association commended him not only for his lifetime contribution to the apple and pear industry but also for this role in finding and registering two new apple varieties, Bigbucks, marketed as FlashGala, and Fuji Royal, an improved Fuji strain which he shares with Tru-Cape’s Ceres-based grower, Robert Zulch.
Although the two orchard visits are free of charge, advanced booking is essential as space is limited to 40 people per session and places fill up fast.
Bookings for the two sessions (10am to 12 noon and 2pm to 4pm) on Saturday March 14, 2020 are at quicket.co.za. Please search for Tru-Cape Heritage Orchard. Updates at www.Tru-Cape.com.
