Oak Valley is one of the largest deciduous fruit production units in South
Africa with 342 hectares currently under production. 70% of this hectarage
is planted to apples, whilst 30% is established to pears. Oak Valley has invested large
amounts of capital in modernising the orchard capacity with new cultivars being
introduced in line with current market demands. Two thirds of the total fruit area is
planted to high value varieties. Production averages
16 000 tons of fruit per annum.
With apples the varietal mix includes Pink Lady, Sundowner, Fuji, Braeburn and
Royal Gala as well as the more standard Golden Delicious, Granny Smith and Topred.
The pear mix includes Abate Fetel, Forelle, and Doyenne du Comice as
well as a lesser hectarage of Packhams Truimph.
Oak Valley was one of the first three farming units outside of the EU to achieve the
prestigious Tesco Natures Choice accreditation and is also Globalgap accredited giving
it priority access to supermarket shelf space in these important markets. The Natures
Choice accreditation was upgraded to Gold status in Jan 2004. Oak Valley has also
achieved preferred supplier status with Waitrose in the United Kingdom.
The Oak Valley fruit crop is packed and stored at the Two-a-Day Group Limited
(established 1948) where Oak Valley is a substantial shareholder. The Two-a-Day
Group has a wholly owned subsidiary Elgin Fruit Juices (Pty) Ltd which was
established in 1980 to deal with the processing quality fruit produced on its shareholders farms.
This fruit is converted into apple and pear juice concentrate for sale in markets
across the world.
The marketing of the dessert quality fruit is conducted through a joint venture company established in 2001, known as
Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing (Pty) Limited. Tru-Cape has grown to become the leading exporter of apples and pears out of South
Africa.
Exports are targeted at the UK, Europe, North America, the Middle East and the Far East, whilst Tru-Cape is also the largest
national supplier of apples and pears to the domestic and over border markets in Southern Africa.
