Platkloof Boerdery is a well-established table grape farm located 137 km from Cape Town, South Africa, outside Piketberg. The Kotze family has owned the farm for over 200 years with table grapes in production from 1993. Platkloof Boerdery prides itself on its four red, four black and three white seedless varieties.
Solar power is used in conjunction with Eskom power. Additional power generated is pushed back into the grid.
Unnecessary driving is limited both on site and for trips to town. Key personnel make use of motorcycles instead of cars.
Platkloof Boerdery uses an electronic irrigation system to apply water accurately, supported by probes and profile holes to prevent over- or under-watering. Weather forecasts are checked regularly, and rainfall is recorded to guide irrigation decisions. Together, these practices ensure water-wise farming and irrigation only when needed.
Soil is analysed twice a year, and fertiliser plans are developed in consultation with advisors. Pruning waste is repurposed as mulch.
All organic waste is delivered to a wine cellar in the neighbouring area. This helps minimise the amount of fruit flies on the farm as no product is left in the vineyards. Packaging material that is not fit for use is recycled by a box-folding company.
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