Lucentlands

What happens between producing good fruit in the orchard and delivering that same quality to a market thousands of kilometres away?

A considerable amount of science.

In Episode 164 of the Lucentlands Podcast, Dr Martin Taylor, Research Fellow at ExperiCo, and Dr Ian Crouch, Managing Director of ExperiCo, join Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie to discuss the research, innovation and problem-solving that take place behind the scenes of South Africa’s fresh produce industry.

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This podcast is proudly sponsored by Agrarius. Find out more:
https://f.mtr.cool/vruhhsslfl

HORTGRO is entering a new chapter — one built on continuity, experience and the need to keep adapting.
As Anton Rabe hands over the CEO role to Jacques du Preez, the two reflect on where the organisation has come from and the priorities that will shape what comes next: market access, logistics, research, transformation, stronger internal capacity and the ability to respond to a rapidly changing global environment.

Read the full newsletter: Evolution, not revolution: HORTGRO’s next chapter
https://f.mtr.cool/ss0kw9aecn

Leadership transitions are not only about change — they are also about continuity, experience and knowing when to adapt.

As Anton Rabe prepares to hand over the CEO role at HORTGRO to Jacques du Preez, their perspectives point in the same direction: the organisation must continue evolving with the industry around it. Anton stresses the need to keep adapting, while Jacques describes his approach as “evolution rather than revolution.” Anton Rabe & Jacques du Preez Anton Rabe & Jacques du Preez

Watch Lucentlands Podcast Episode 162 with Anton Rabe, outgoing CEO of HORTGRO, and Jacques du Preez, incoming CEO of HORTGRO.

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For South African fruit growers, compliance is no longer optional. But Nic Dicey argues that it should also be viewed as more than another audit or cost of doing business.

In Episode 163 of the Lucentlands Podcast, Nic Dicey, HORTGRO Chairman and deciduous fruit producer, joins Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie to discuss SIZA – the Sustainability Initiative of South Africa – as it celebrates ten years.

Dicey explains why the industry developed its own South African standard, how SIZA has earned recognition from international trade, and why ethical and environmental compliance increasingly forms part of good day-to-day farm management.

“You’ve actually got to live that policy. It’s not a tick-box exercise once a year.”

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This podcast is proudly sponsored by Agrarius. Find out more:
https://f.mtr.cool/vruhhsslfl

Cherry season always brings a sense of excitement, and strong visuals help communicate that story across marketing, retail and industry platforms.

The Lucentlands Stock Site includes agricultural photography that can be used for articles, campaigns, presentations and social media, with imagery that reflects the colour, quality and seasonal appeal of cherries and their production environment.

For brands and businesses looking for professional agricultural visuals with a South African context, the Lucentlands Stock Site offers a growing and practical image resource.

Browse the collection here:
https://f.mtr.cool/5la4560rj6

The heart of Lucentlands has always been about more than the work we do for our clients and the agricultural industry. It’s also about sharing knowledge and creating opportunities for the next generation.

On Dewald’s recent road trip to the Eastern Cape, his eldest daughter, Emily, joined him behind the scenes — learning about agriculture, but also getting a very real look at life as a photographer and videographer on the road.

Early mornings, long days, camera gear and plenty of learning along the way. Sometimes the best education happens outside the classroom.

A new table grape brand with a strong South African connection is currently making its debut on the international market. tiqi™ brings consumers red seedless grapes that are sweet, juicy and crunchy, with a distinctive layered flavour profile and subtle aroma. Consumer testing in the UK, involving thousands of participants, showed a particularly positive response to the eating experience.

Read the full story in the latest Lucentlands newsletter: https://f.mtr.cool/n8z9ab0uak