SRCC farming families... 𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞 “𝐙𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐞𝐠”….

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟓𝟏 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲.

𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

In 1777, Solomon Ferreira christened his farm "TZoetgeneugd." This name, meaning "Sweet Enough" in Dutch, reflected the fertile land's promise. In those days it was a stock farm. In 1820, the Comleys acquired the farm from Mr. Ferreira and cultivated its fields for nearly 150 years. During this time, the farm was parceled out among successive generations, each receiving a share, until the plots became too diminutive for viable commercial farming. Consequently, the T’Zoetgeneugd estate has since changed hands multiple times, with various producers taking up the mantle.

In August 1973, the Marais family purchased portions of the farm from various owners including Comley. Charles, then serving in the army, distinctly recalls the moment his father Jacques phoned to share the news of their purchase in the Addo region. At that time, Charles had no plans to pursue farming and believed his brother, Stephen, would carry on the family's agricultural tradition.

He also remembers his first visit to the farm – the property seemed desolate and in need of restoration. Charles worked as a research assistant at UCT in the field of bird and plant ecology and the environment in the Jonkershoek Valley close to Stellenbosch. He conducted biological trials at various locations along the West Coast, including the vicinity of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station to assess it’s impact on the ecology of Table Bay. He was on his way to a project at Marion Island when his father requested him to come home, to come farming.

Charles's mother Audrey had already planted five orchards with the assistance of the SRCC Technical Department. Charles continued this work, but first had to put in a tremendous amount of effort to clear the land of gum trees, using only a chainsaw!

Charles received valuable citrus farming advice from many senior farmers in the Valley, amongst others BC Walton, Doc Bunton, Patrick Niven and Vernon Swanepoel.

Huguenot Farm, once a partnership between Charles, Stephen and their father Jacques, evolved into the present day Company, 𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐏𝐭𝐲) 𝐋𝐭𝐝, including Lillian Daniell.

The availability of water was a significant concern for farmers in the Barkly Bridge area. With the arrival of the Orange River water in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, scheduling records were released indicating water allocated to scheduled land and de-scheduled land. Despite being entitled to receive extra water, the SRIB at that time was unable and unwilling to provide water, citing that the canal did not have the capacity to accommodate the extra flow.

Charles formed a concerned group called ABBA (Addo Barkly Besproeiers Aksie) with the producers from Addo to Barkly Bridge. Eventually, the area gained access to water without any restrictions. Charles describes the arrival of water as "life-changing” for many Barkly farmers. Thereafter Charles served for a few years on the SRIB, under the chairmanship of Mr Nic Hudson.

Charles has always been known for his strong work ethic. In addition to his commitment to farming and shortly after his marriage to Dodi Horak from Bloemfontein he spent a few years teaching biology at St. Colmcille Convent in Kirkwood. Later, he seized an opportunity to work for SRCC and gained a wealth of experience in the technical department under the leadership of Hannes Joubert. Throughout this period, Charles's wife, Dodi, assisted with various citrus aspects while Charles was working away from the farm.

During their time at SRCC, Hannes Joubert and Charles, as his assistant, delved into various methods of soil preparation. They designed a prototype plough that had to be pulled by a Caterpillar bulldozer which today is common practice but back in the 80’s was revolutionary. These bulldozers were imported into South Africa by Audley Vermaak. The first land to be ploughed using this innovative method was at Halaron and Lonetree.

While at SRCC, he also recalls the red-scale plague that struck the valley in the 1980's. The red-scale insect had become resistant to the organophosphate chemicals in common use, and multiple valley-wide meetings were held to discuss the threats. Eventually, alternative chemicals were such as Nemesis were applied successfully. The release of beneficial insects was also employed. SRCC developed an insectary where beneficial insects were bred under Dr Willem du Toit.

In 2000, Charles succeeded Eric Holdom as East Cape representative for the Du Roi IPM agricultural insectary based in Letsitele Limpopo. A role he held for approximately 10 years and serviced the Gamtoos, Kat River and Sunday’s River valleys.

Charles and Dodi have three daughters Stefanie, Juliet and Natalie. All educated in the valley, Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown. Over the past 41 years Dodi has been involved in the Citrus office administration, including community involvement interalia the Fitzpatrick Library and SR Women’s Institute.

𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫...

Charles is fortunate to have his son-in-law, Joe Pringle, managing the citrus farm. Joe, who is married to Charles's daughter Steffi, has been actively involved in citrus farming since August 2012. The strong relationship, mentorship and work ethic between Charles and Joe are evident. Charles suggested that Joe join the Orange Dogs Study Group, as he believed that the most effective way to gather information was by socialising around the fire, ‘braaing’ meat, and conversing with fellow farmers who understand the challenges you face and share solutions.

Joe is a member of the SRCC Supply Chain Management Board, which supports the SRCC Executive Management Team and the SRCC Group Directors in identifying issues that affect producers, serving as an additional line of communication between producers and SRCC.

𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐑𝐂𝐂. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦, 𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐚𝐥, 𝐈𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐮𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐑𝐂𝐂 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧.

From effective communication with managers to assistance with accreditation and the flexibility of packing various varieties in a single week, SRCC offers a comprehensive service to its growers. With the expertise of the agronomy and marketing departments, SRCC ensures that growers receive top-notch support at every step of the process.

In 1987, Charles planted two Yellowwood trees at the old Technical Department building. These trees have since flourished, growing into two magnificent specimens that stand as a testament to the enduring beauty of the land and the commitment to its stewardship.

As the trees have matured, their roots have grown deep, anchoring them firmly in the ground. Similarly, over the past 51 years, Huguenot Farms has cultivated strong roots in the Sunday’s River Valley and continue growing into the future!

𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐨𝐝𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬, 𝐉𝐨𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐢 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭.

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