© Bousaam BoerderySandwiched between a world heritage estuarine wetland and South Africa's oldest game reserve, Bousaam Boerdery has been growing pineapples since 1978. "In the middle of paradise," says Regardo Müller (right, with a large Queen pineapple).
Bousaam ('Build together') Boerdery is a family business of which Müller and his business partner Karel de Haas, whose grandfather Fanie de Haas established Bousaam Boerdery, represent the third generation farming on the God-given good soil of Hluhluwe, he says. "I'd like to pay homage also to my father-in-law, Frans Cathey, and Karel's father, Stephanie de Haas, who, as the second generation on Bousaam, laid the foundation for where we are today."
Müller continues: "It's going really well with pineapple farmers at the moment, we're grateful to be getting more than our input costs. There have been extended periods when we've had to accept prices falling below our input costs. Pineapples are very expensive to grow and very expensive to process."
Over the past eighteen months, reduced supply has led to a pineapple shortage. More pineapples have been planted by the industry as a correction, and the price has come down from last year this time. But it's springtime: temperatures are rising, South Africans will feel the itch to braai (barbecue) around the proverbial swimming pool, a scenario where pineapples effortlessly fit in.
"It is sure to be an interesting year ahead," he remarks. Bousaam's fresh pineapples go to Freshmark (Checkers' fresh division) and Nuleaf, and to the Gauteng municipal markets. Müller says they are deeply proud to be associated with these clients and with the Rugani vegetable and fruit juice range, to which they supply juice pineapples, and it's become an indispensable part of their business.
© Bousaam Boerdery
Nevertheless, finding a home for the whole crop, grown year-round, is difficult at times: canning factories in Eswatini and KwaZulu-Natal have closed over the years, while exports of baby pineapples come with a whole extra level of risk they don't want.
They've considered drying pineapples, but this business plan's long-term sustainability is challenging.
"Working with the local people of Hluhluwe and providing employment to many families is an added benefit of farming, and it works to our advantage because our workforce is key to our production," Müller observes.
© Bousaam Boerdery
For more information:
Regardo Müller
Bousaam Boerdery
Tel: +27 82 722 5005 / +27 82 323 1465
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
https://www.bousaam.co.za/home.aspx
