South African Update

During January Martin Seymour, David Johnston all paid a visit to their colleagues in South Africa. The Engineered Farming Solutions (EFS) team had made huge developments over the last twelve months to get their tunnel production sit up and running. They have been in production since 2002, operating from a factory in george in the Western Cape. The premises is 1500m2, with 8 permanent staff. When they are at full capacity up to ten additional "casuals" are needed.

Chris Charter of Well Pict South Africa

With just the permanent staff the team is able to produce up to 3/4 of a hectare a day (that's a lot of steel!) During low production, EFS manufacture picking trolley's and in field toilets as well as design and build infield equipment such as bed makers and other land prep equipment. EFS are well on the way to becoming an international company, with orders in the UK, Southern Europe, Central Africa as well as their home market.

All of the machines in the factory have been designed and produced by Pete and Anthony to produce tunnel parts of the highest quality.

Alongside the tunnels there are a number of production sites that Well-Pict European have invested in to provide both fruit for the UK market and to help develop sales in the South African home market. Just up the road from the Well-Pict European farm (Ridgewood Farm) is Mark Millers production, EFS tunnels have been used to cover his crop. The fruit goes to supermarket sales, local sales and PYO. Outside of the strawberry season he also produces mini Veg.

Manufacturing in the poly tunnel factory

The sale and packing of Mark Millers fruit and most of the farms within the George area is done by the 1910 Fruitbox Co. 1910's director Chris Charter has an excellent relationship with the SA retailer Woolworths (the M & S of S.A.) Woolworths saw a huge increase in sales over the strawberry season in 2002, due mainly to the excellent tasting crop. Chris hopes with the help of Well-Pict European and the Well-Pict varieties the crop will be even better this year. As well as soft fruit 1910 also has a very popular mini veg line with the retailer and are running Pea trials with the Zambian company Agriflora, which look to have been successful.

Spring 2003