Skilpadvlei Wine Farm derives its charming name from the legendary colony of tortoises that was found in the vlei in the 1800’s. The beautiful piece of land was dubbed Skilpadvlei and has been in the hands of the Joubert family since 1917. Willem Daniel Joubert is the fourth generation currently managing the farm. Facilities at Skilpadvlei include a farm style restaurant, beautiful wedding and conference venue, and country style accommodation with views of the farm landscape and 31.47ha of vineyards.
Paul Clüver is a family business dedicated to producing world-class wines and fruit, whilst being mindful of their impact on the environment and community. Set within the Kogelberg Biosphere, half of Paul Cluver’s estate is under conservation in perpetuity. Preserving their natural heritage is part of who they are, and the farm strives to lead sustainable farming for the future.
Francois Joubert bought his farm in the Schoemanskloof Valley, Mpumalanga province, in 1966. It was called Geluk (“Luck” in English). In 1990, the first citrus orchards were established. A total of 1605 Midknight Valencia trees were planted which are still in production today. The two Joubert sons, Kobus and Francois (jnr), continue to grow their father’s legacy and are one of the biggest citrus producing farms in South Africa. They have partnered with Croplife and Buhle Waste to guide them towards a more sustainable and carbon friendly business.
Located in Kempton Park, Gauteng, the United Exports Packhouse embraces a circular waste economy and implements various initiatives to reduce, re-use and recycle waste. The packhouse also supports a local community crèche and retirement home through donations.
Green Farms Nut Company is a macadamia processing and export company. The company currently has three processing facilities in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal with more in the pipeline, serving over 450 growers across Southern Africa. Green Farms Nut Co. have a healthy sales spread, supplying macadamias to all major continents. Their focus has always been the kernel market and Green farms Nut Co. continuously increases their capacity to be able to crack their entire intake, while not neglecting the inshell market.
Resting at the feet of the Magaliesburg Mountain Range, in beautiful South Africa, Cherry Ridge’s cherry farms are uniquely situated at 5000 feet. At this altitude, Cherry Ridge are one of the earliest Southern Hemisphere cherry producers in the world, harvesting cherries for their customers to enjoy in October.
The Karsten Group is a leading agri-business respected both locally and internationally for the excellence of their products, innovation, and integrity in its dealings with staff, service providers and customers. Karsten has 13 business units who are Carbon Heroes. Each business unit will have its own Carbon Heroes profile soon.
Chennells Farm Holdings is a citrus farm situated in Nkwalini, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, producing grapefruit lemons and oranges. The farm has been in existence for 30 years, owned by Mr P.M Chennell. Chennells Farm Holdings are an exporter and producer of citrus with an onsite packhouse.
Denbi Fresh Produce is located near Mookgopong in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Denbi Fresh Produce produces Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries and Gooseberries. Their motto is sustainable agriculture and to farm with nature; planting directly into the soil and covering the beds with mulch produced on the farm. The farm also plants green cover crops between rows to use as mulch. The carbon content in the soil is carefully monitored and regular microbial activity analyses are done to enhance the soil and root health.
Mabunda farm is situated in the Limpopo province on the Northern banks of the Great Letaba river. The farm consists of 291 hectares of grapefruit, orange and lemon orchards. The Lona Group exports Mabunda’s fruit and provide loan funding and administrative support. Mabunda Citrus (Pty) Ltd is a proud CCC user who puts in considerable effort in calculating and understanding its carbon emissions.
Namoneng farm is situated along the banks of the Vyeboomhoek and Kaspersnek annual streams about 20 km north of Ohrigstad in the Mpumalanga province. 237 hectares of land are planted with mandarins, clementines and oranges, with 69 hectares under net. A further 85 hectares will be planted over the next two years. The Lona Group is responsible for exporting Namoneng’s fruit. Namoneng Citrus (Pty) Ltd is a proud CCC user who puts in considerable effort in calculating and understanding its carbon emissions.
The New Dawn farm group is spread over various portions west of Hoedspruit in the Limpopo province. The 585 hectares of orchards on the farms comprise of 360 hectares of citrus and 225 hectares of mango. The Lona Group packs and exports New Dawn’s fruit and provides loan funding as well as administrative support. New Dawn Farming Enterprise (Pty) Ltd is a proud CCC user who puts in considerable effort in calculating and understanding its carbon emissions.
Since Southern Farms began in 1996, a pledge to “farming in harmony with nature”, and their commitment to responsible farming methods, have always been the driving force in their operations. Today, Southern Farms’ stringent environmental scorecard reflects: responsible water usage and waste management; monitored electricity control backed by solar support; a move towards eco-friendly packaging where possible; carefully maintained soil and plant health; and reducing their carbon footprint, to name a few. Southern Farms is honoured to be a Carbon Hero.
At Bosman Adama, near Wellington, they believe that the natural environment is integral to the sustainability of the community, and that the responsibility for pro-active care and conservation rests with each one of us. From the propagation of grape vines in the nursery, to the growing of grapes on their land, and ultimately the making of Bosman Family Vineyards wines in the cellar, Bosman Adama consciously employs practices at every level that conserve resources, reduce waste, facilitate growth and promote regeneration.
Resting at the feet of the Magaliesburg Mountain Range, in beautiful South Africa, Cherry Ridge’s cherry farms are uniquely situated at 5000 feet. At this altitude, Cherry Ridge are one of the earliest Southern Hemisphere cherry producers in the world, harvesting cherries for their customers to enjoy in October.
Boplaas 1743 Landgoed is the parent company of a wholly owned group of export fruit producing farms and agriculture-related enterprises located in the Western Cape region of South Africa. Boplaas Farm, which stands as a pioneer in this agribusiness, was established in 1743 in the Koue Bokkeveld near Ceres, approximately 200 km north-east of Cape Town. This farm has remained under the ownership of the Van der Merwe family since its inception. Renowned for producing world-class export apples and pears, it holds the distinction of being South Africa’s oldest family-owned business. With a heritage spanning ten generations of Van der Merwe farmers and entrepreneurs, Boplaas Farm embodies enduring success and upholds a legacy of knowledge and commitment on its picturesque, fertile terrain.
Morester Farming is a table grape farm with diverse varieties in black, red and white seedless cultivars. Morester Farming is situated west of Piketberg, about 140km from Cape Town. Table grapes have been grown on the farm since the early 1990s and the farm was recently handed over to new owners.
KMI Farming is a 230-ha farm, situated in Karino in the Lowveld. KMI produces soft citrus and macadamia. The business has been operating for 6 years.
Botha Kelder is situated about 100km from Cape Town en route to Ceres in the Breedekloof Wine Valley. The farm is located at the foothills of rugged mountains, where snow and sun play their intense role during the seasons. Botha Kelder’s winemaking is based on the art of reading nature, combined with science, to make wines of distinction. The farm is staying coordinated with innovative technology, and working smarter to sustain a healthier, happier, and more prosperous future for all at Botha Kelder.
In 2006 a group of Citrusdal growers (Western Cape, South Africa) came together to start a more direct approach to Citrus marketing. The approach was to manage the logistical chain to deliver fresh fruit as quickly as possible to customers all around the world. This developed into a fully operational export company that now supply various Citrus (Clementines, Mandarins, Lemons, Oranges & grapefruit) as well as various Stonefruit. (Nectarines, Peaches & Apricots) to supermarkets, wholesale markets and importers in various countries. Social responsibility and sustainability are high priority for the group. All necessary actions are taken to comply to supermarkets expectations. GlobalG.A.P., SIZA Social and Environmental and BRC certification are some of the accreditations in place across the board. Carbon footprints are monitored, and all measures are in place to reduce on a yearly basis. Farms are 4th and 5th generation ownership, and in most cases, the operating staff and workers are also 4th and 5th generation.
Everseason further believes in high family values and building the business with the people involved.
Umvangazi Farms is a second-generation family farming business situated in the subtropical areas of Kiepersol, Mpumalanga, and Tzaneen, Limpopo. The climate and soils are perfectly suited for the cultivation of Macadamias. Umvangazi Farms started converting gum plantations, avocado and banana orchards to Macadamias 30 years ago.
Robertson Winery is situated in the town of Robertson, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Robertson Winery is proudly calculating their carbon footprint as a bottling company that fills bottle ready wine, grape juice and de-alcoholised wine in glass, bag in box and combi packaging.
Taaibosch Wines is situated high on the slopes of the Helderberg mountains. Making wines that embody origin is the ultimate outcome Taaibosch strives for. Furthermore, Taaibosch respects nature and the preservation thereof; it is an endeavour of their team to rehabilitate the flora of the estate to that which is indigenous to the Cape, so as to maintain a balance between the natural environment and agriculture.
Villiera is located in the Stellenbosch wine region of South Africa and produces award-winning Cap Classique and still wines. Villiera has a strong focus on sustainable farming practices. Solar installations provide nearly all of our energy requirements, recycled water is purified through marshes and used for irrigation. Most of our vineyards are drip irrigated and we utilize a rainwater harvesting system. Our greening project to rehabilitate fallow land entailed planting thousands of indigenous trees on the farm which further mitigates our carbon footprint.
Alicedale Berries is situated in the Buffelspoort Valley in the Northwest province of South Africa. Alicedale is a blueberry farm and packhouse where different blueberry varieties are cultivated for local and export markets. Alicedale’s mission is to add value to their suppliers, shareholders, customers, and country by taking care of their produce and its needs in time. They recognise that to achieve their mission they have a responsibility to conserve their environment and natural resources, and to protect the surrounding ecosystem; ensuring the sustainability of their operations.
Stellenbosch Vineyards is the smart solutions and innovation hub of Advini South Africa, based on the historic Welmoed Farm in Stellenbosch. Environmental sustainability is a cornerstone of our approach, with a specific focus on innovative packaging, renewable energy and a reduced carbon footprint. With access to vineyards throughout Stellenbosch from 17 dedicated growers, this winery is also the house of brands for global commercial brands including Welmoed and Arniston Bay, as well as specialised, single vineyard and niche crafted wines.
Montagu is situated in the Little Karoo, where the famous Route 62 begins. Montagu is surrounded by mountains and the different valleys add to the complexity of the wines. Montagu Winery has turned partly to solar power as an alternative energy source from 2021. Grape suppliers of Montagu Winery are turning to more biological practices and regenerative farming has become more common recently.
Unifrutti SA: Blyderiver Farms, is situated in the Greater Kruger to Canyon Biosphere near Hoedspruit in Limpopo, South Africa. Four farms were acquired from the Van den Berg Family in 2004, which now comprise Blyderiver Farms. With 574 hectares of citrus production, including lemons (166ha), grapefruit (108ha), and oranges (301ha), citrus are exported to various international markets through Unifrutti South Africa’s marketing division. Approximately 527 workers are employed during the season at Blyderiver Farms.
Unifrutti SA: Dunbrody Farm is located in the heart of the Sundays River Valley in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. This was the first investment the Unifrutti Group made in South Africa. Dunbrody Farm consists of 1230 ha of land, of which 604 ha consists of citrus orchards, mainly for export. Dunbrody makes use of their own export company which form part of the Unifrutti Group worldwide. Currently holding silver carbon footprint status, Dunbrody Farm strives to conserve and enhance the environment.
DeMorgenzon is a wine producing farm owned by Wendy and Hylton Appelbaum, which they purchased in 2003. DeMorgenzon is situated on the Stellenbosch Kloof Road, approximately 10 minutes from Stellenbosch. DeMorgenzon sits on the southern most point of the Bottelary Hills and farms grapes between 200-400 meters above sea level, making it an ideal site for cool climate Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Syrah production, amongst others. DeMorgenzon also farms seven different species of olive tree, totalling over 2000 trees, and sells the olive oil produced in the tasting room.
San Clemente S.A. is a family business that started in 1984 with the purpose of contributing to a healthy lifestyle by providing wholesome, fresh and high quality food products. San Clemente’s holding is composed of Agrícola San Clemente, Exportadora San Clemente, San Clemente Foods, Central Frutícola San Clemente and Conservera San Clemente; business units that continue to grow and develop in order to adapt to an increasingly complex and demanding market.
Doolhof lies at the confluence of several expansive mountains. Thanks to sheer gradients, the valley benefits from lower average temperatures that encourages slow ripening. The shape and aspects of the various parts of the estate allow for several distinct micro-climates. Doolhof generally experiences cooler winters and moderate summers. This confluence of viticultural conditions allows the winemaking team to work with an exciting range of top-quality varieties, including Chenin Blanc, Pinotage and Doolhof’s flagship Malbec.
Situated along the West Coast of South Africa, Lutzville Vineyards has been producing cool climate wines since 1961. Lutzville’s flagship variety is Sauvignon Blanc and the farm has won many accolades as a result.
Mouton Citrus is proudly owned by the Mouton family and its empowerment partners, including Mgro – a company representing Mouton Citrus’ employees. The farms are situated around Citrusdal, along the Elephants River and flanked by the imposing Cederberg Mountains. The area enjoys a Mediterranean climate, making it ideal for the production of novel varieties and citrus of the very highest standards. The region is free of phytosanitary citrus pests such as Citrus Blackspot, Greening and Citrus Canker.
The history of Kleine Zalze dates back to 1683 when Nicolaas Cleef settled on the banks of the Blaauwklippen River and started cultivating the land. Today Kleine Zalze Wines is a modern, proudly Stellenbosch premium wine cellar offering honest authentic wines to the global market. Still situated on the banks of the Blaauwklippen river, Kleine Zalze is mindful of their impact on the environment as well as their role in the broader community. Kleine Zalze is committed to systematically reducing their carbon footprint.
Klein Constantia is a world-renowned producer of fine wines, located in Cape Town’s historic Constantia Valley, the cradle of South African wine dating back to 1685. Klein Constantia is most famous for our Vin de Constance dessert wine, an iconic modern recreation of legendary Constantia wine, and they also specialise in cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc, producing various expressions. Klein Constantia’s owners since 2011 are Zdenek Bakala and Charles Harman with minority shareholders Bruno Prats, Hubert de Boüard de Laforest and Hans Astrom.
uniWines Vineyards, established in 2007, is a progressive wine company in the Breedekloof Wine Valley, South Africa. uniWines has four producing cellars and being able to control their grape supply allows the farm to be responsive, flexible & market-focused. uniWines offers variety within their own brands and private labels, ranging from entry-level, premium, Old Vines, Fairtrade and their portfolio is consumer-driven. uniWines Vineyards prides themselves in delivering quality, value and nurturing long-term relationships. uniWines delivers quality in every glass to make every occasion an enjoyable one.
Agristar, a fourth-generation farming business was founded in 1948, starting with Sugarcane and Subtropical fruit in the eastern regions of Mpumalanga. Today they specialize in growing, processing and marketing tree nuts of the highest quality. The founder of their company was one of the first farmers to plant Macadamia nuts in Mpumalanga. In addition to this, he is a founding member of SAMAC. According to Agristar, the business has enjoyed contributing to South Africa’s tree nut industry for more than half a century and they continue to support this growing and prosperous industry.
AP Vos & Seuns is a family business that was first established in 1953. The third generation is currently in management and the fourth generation has recently started getting involved. The farm is situated in Mpumalanga in Kiepersol, about 20km from Hazyview and 60km from Nelspruit. The farm produces Macadamia Nuts and all the trees are bearing.
Groep 91 Uitvoer is a family-owned grower and exporter of citrus and macadamia nuts from Letsitele, South Africa. The business was founded in 1984, but the operating company was only established in 1991, which is where the “91” in the name originates from. Today, Groep 91 is owned equally by 4 family members, with the second generation having been involved in the executive management of the company since 2010. Total citrus under irrigation is 760 hectares, while macadamia plantings total 180 hectares.
Mayo Macs is a South African Macadamia processing, marketing and distribution company. Mayo Macs owns and operates two state-of-the-art Macadamia processing facilities located near Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, and Paddock, Kwazulu-Natal south coast, with depots located in Empangeni, George and Levubu. The company is wholly owned by Mayo Macs’ growers, supplying the highest quality Macadamias worldwide.
Established in 1941, Perdeberg Wines, a privately held entity, thrives as a collaboration among shareholding grape producers, some with four generations represented on their board. Nestled in South Africa’s Agter-Paarl, Perdeberg Wines’ vineyards embody decades of collective expertise. Together, Perdeberg crafts exceptional wines that honour the region’s terroir. Welcome to Perdeberg Wines, where tradition and innovation converge in every exquisite bottle.
Exportadora El Parque was established in 2004 and is located in Chile and Peru. The main business is to export top quality, sustainably produced and processed, fresh fruit to the best markets all around the world. Exportadora El Parque is specialized in avocados, with their own and external production, and they also export blueberries, cherries, and citrus, such as lemons, oranges, murcotts and grapefruits. Exportadora El Parque’s commitment is to always act responsibly when it comes to the environment, society and internally as a company.
In 1962, Carel van Zyl planted some of the first vineyards in the Piekenierskloof. Today the fourth generation of van Zyl’s celebrate their heritage with unique wines made from meticulously farmed and lovingly managed vines, some more than 60 years old. Fondly dubbed the ‘Grenache HQ’ amongst wine lovers, the Piekenierskloof not only boasts with one of the largest Grenache plantings in the Cape, but it‘s extensive collection of old, unirrigated bush vine vineyards have stood the test of time and continuously deliver exceptional wines.
Doornkraal Agri, based in South Africa, is a forward-thinking agricultural enterprise dedicated to sustainable farming practices. Specializing in high-quality crop production, Doornkraal Agri integrates advanced agricultural techniques with eco-friendly initiatives to minimize environmental impact. Committed to innovation and sustainability, the company strives to enhance food security while promoting carbon neutral farming methods to protect and preserve our planet for the future generations.
Suiderland Plase is a leading producer, packer, distributor and exporter of top-quality citrus fruit and table grapes. Suiderland Plase sells their own fruit, as well as other producers’ fruit, locally and globally, conveniently packed and ready to sell. Suiderland Plase’s fruit offering is produced and packed across South Africa, with most of the farms and packhouses located in the Western Cape.
Suiderland Plase’s roots go back to the late 1940s. Over the years the company has grown steadily and has maintained a commitment to world-class quality, despite the challenges typical to the agricultural industry.
Sustainability is a core part of Suiderland Plase’s business strategy. Suiderland Plase actively pursues ways in which their business can be conducted – from growing and processing to distributing fruit – in a socially responsible, sustainable manner that reduces the impact on the environment. This is achieved by continuously monitoring and improving farming practices and environmental performance.
Suiderland Plase was initially established as a family enterprise and despite their extensive growth, they still believe in the importance of a human touch. While the business priorities are delivering high-quality fruit, being as efficient as possible and growing profit, Suiderland Plase also values people and communities.
Suiderland Plase has 14 business units who are Carbon Heroes.
Hoedspruit Berries is located in Hoedspruit, Limpopo. The first Stella Blue Blueberries were planted in 2018 and has since expanded to include the Rosita cultivar. Hoedspruit Berries also produces Englich Cucumbers and has a Citrus tree nursery.
Orange River Cellars is situated in Upington, in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. ORC was established in December 1965 and sources its pristine grapes from about 160 expert grape producers throughout the Green Kalahari. ORC produces and supplies wine to both local and international markets.
Lemberg Wine Estate in Tulbagh, South Africa, is a family-owned winery spanning 21 hectares, 9 of those hectares dedicated to the cultivation of both red and white grape varieties. The vineyard, equipped with trellises and irrigation, requires skilled hands to meticulously care for each vine. The estate’s emphasis is on crafting wines by hand; managing different growth phases manually, nurturing the vines and handpicking the grapes during harvest. The small workforce at Lemberg Wine Estate, diligently using their hands, constitutes the core of Lemberg’s success.
Orange Falls is situated next to the lower Orange River, Augrabies, Northern Cape. Orange Falls grows and supplies a variety of Table Grapes and Pecan Nuts internationally and locally. Table grapes are packed in the farm’s own packhouse, and certified by multiple certification organizations. Orange Falls is trying to reduce their carbon footprint by using low carbon energy, choosing energy efficient appliances, and reducing, reusing, and recycling their waste.
Graaff Fruit is a family-owned farming operation that produces pome fruit, stone fruit, and cherries. The Graaff Family bought Lushof, situated in the Warm Bokkeveld, in 1968, and Robert Graaff started farming on it in 1998 with 80ha of pears and only 20 employees. The packhouse was built on Lushof in 2002 and the farm started specializing in stone fruit. Graaff Fruit subsequently expanded with two other production units: Romansrivier in Wolseley, that produces early stone fruit and pears, and Rietfontein in the Koue Bokkeveld, that produces mainly apples and pears.
