For more than 125 years, SATI has represented the country’s table grape producers, proudly exporting premium-quality grapes to global markets. With deep rural roots and a workforce drawn largely from historically disadvantaged communities, SATI is committed to inclusive growth and transformation within the sector. SATI assists growers with crucial industry information, technical market access and development, transformation, statistics, research, technology and technical transfer as well as training and education with the aim of establishing South Africa as the Preferred Country of Origin for the world’s best tasting grapes. SATI facilitates and supports BBBEE initiatives within the table grape industry by focusing on enterprise development, skills development and socio-economic development projects.
Since 2023, SATI presented Cultipowered with specific challenges identified on four table grape farms. These included the impact of loadshedding, limited electricity infrastructure, and restricted access to mechanisation, all of which placed pressure on production capacity, irrigation systems, and packhouse operations during peak seasons.
Elize Boer receiving their 220kVA generator on Roode Zand Farm.
Elize Boer and Robin Johnson with a carton of ARRA 29 grapes packed during loadshedding.
Through a cost-sharing model involving Cultipowered, SATI, government, and financing partners, practical solutions were developed to tackle these issues collaboratively:
- Roode Zand Farm and PG Kriel Workers Trust each received a 220KVA generator, ensuring that irrigation and packing operations could continue uninterrupted during loadshedding.
- At Bergvallei Farm, a solar power plant was installed to secure the farm’s main water supply. The previous season, the farm lost its entire crop due to challenges with electricity and not being able to irriagte.
Bank approval is currently pending for a mechanisation project at Redwood Hill Farm near Wellington. Support from Cultipowered is helping to de-risk the financing application by addressing the challenges experienced last season. Due to a lack of equipment, the farm was unable to spray its vineyards on time, resulting in losses of more than 15% of the crop. This cost-sharing approach will help mitigate such risks in future.
Solar system and infrastructure development project at Bergvallei Farm, Mr Ronald Van Schalkwyk measuring the water flow rate with service provider.
To date, Cultipowered’s contributions helped unlock projects directly improving the sustainability and resilience of the participating farms. These projects demonstrates the power of collaboration to create lasting, meaningful impact. By combining resources and expertise, these initiatives are not only solving immediate operational challenges but also building a stronger, more inclusive agricultural sector for the future.
At Cultipowered, we are proud to walk alongside organisations like SATI that share our commitment to enabling growth, transformation, and opportunity across South Africa’s fruit industry.
For more information email us at info@culdevco.co.za
