Archived News & Information
PFresh registers for EU and UK exports with DWAFF for the 2019 season - 13 December 2018
PFresh has registered and is has been certified to export capsicums to Europe and the UK in 2019. There is a limitation of importation of capsicums into the EU and UK due to possible False Codling Moth (FCM) outbreaks in various countries, South Africa is one of the few countries that is allowed to export capsicums into the EU and UK. Mr Ross Buchan (PFresh Horticulture) alongside the Department of Forestry and Fisheries and Mr Werner Van Rooyen (Fresh Produce Exporters Forum) have developed a "systems approach" to eradicate the FCM occurrence in capsicums. Together a draft Minimum Standards for Capsicum Exporters was developed and this resulted in all of the producers for the 2018/9 season being registered as well as agreeing to strict standards in order to prevent he FCM from infesting their crops. "Thanks to everyone for all the hard work and long hours of strategy and negotiation, we all came out winners" stated Mr Buchan. The 2019 season look promising and exciting to be able to produce first class product to the EU. The African FCM has been know to devastate and ruin entire crops but with all the producers agreeing on a strong economic and strategic practice it looks like South Africa again is taking back lost ground to Asia as being the number 1 exporter of chillis.
PFresh joins the Woolworths online auditing program - 13 October 2018
As a new dawn breaks on food safety and auditing many retailers are beginning to keep tabs on suppliers online. Woolworths PFI live program keeps all Hygiene and Ethical audits information and closing out documents online and are live. The food safety auditing procedure is a extremely rigorous and lengthy process. Document control and exchange is an ongoing procedure and this will hopefully solve some of the time delays and keep both supplier and retailer in the "real time". Ms Owesimo Nxumalo of PFresh who handles document control and QC standards says "it is a complicated system but with some training and practice, it will hopefully save us all some time".
PFresh re-launches its coloured baby carrots range - 13 November 2018
PFresh has seen such a demand in ranbow coloured baby carrots that the production specialist Peter Noel has decided to relaunch this range for the EU market. "A combination of price and demand has made us re think our strategy in market place, we initially found that labour was our biggest expense coupled with the shortage of water, it was just not economical" said the specialist grower. "Now with demand on the rise and the weakening of the South African rand it the production is again possible. Local demand for coloured carrots has also risen slightly over the past 2 years however the SA consumers cant afford the niche product line so it is hoped that the export demand will assist in keeping the prices down and inline with local consumers affordability. PFresh is due to relaunch this line in 2 of the 4 main retailers in December 2018.
What is Food Traceability? - 15 May 2018
Although vegetables and herbs are strictly monitored by the Quality Control (QC) department. Our quality department already inspects the quality of the vegetables on the farms before it is supplied and provides technical assistance to our supplier farms on request. All our suppliers are Global Gap accredited and adhere to strict guidelines for the use of pesticides. Each farmer is supplied with a detailed marketing plan and packing guide before their season begins. When our suppliers' season starts, they will submit samples for MRL testing, with the start of each new cultivar. Only accredited laboratories are used to analyse the samples and the quality department monitors the results. Periodic pack house inspections are done that monitors the quality and the packaging and the relevant information is conveyed to the farmer, as well as to our marking department. This ensures that the produce is packed in the correct packaging for the correct market.
