On April 17, 1662, Dutch Governor Jan van Riebeeck noted the first harvest of Dutch apples in Cape Town's Company Gardens: "Heavy drizzle in the morning and a strong north-westerly wind blowing in from the sea. Today, the first two ripe Dutch apples were picked in the Company's nursery garden… This type of apple is known as a Wijnappel." This entry marks the inception of South Africa's apple industry, a key agricultural sector.
Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, a big marketer of apples and pears in South Africa, commemorates this date annually. Henk Griessel, Tru-Cape's Quality Assurance Manager, emphasizes the importance of April 17, 1662, stating, "It's where our story began." Tru-Cape preserves older varieties in their Heritage Orchard, underscoring their commitment to the industry's legacy.
Today, South Africa ranks among the top apple exporters in the Southern Hemisphere, with production hubs in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Limpopo. Tru-Cape represents over 20% of the nation's apple exports, supplying to 105 markets globally. Roelf Pienaar, Tru-Cape's managing director, explains their role: "Tru-Cape's role goes far beyond marketing—we're involved in everything from cultivar innovation, quality assurance, and sustainability to investing in market access and technology that improves traceability and efficiency."
The industry supports thousands of jobs and contributes to food security, with exports reaching Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, America, Canada, and Mexico. However, challenges such as climate change and logistical bottlenecks persist. The industry is adapting through technology, data-driven farming, and international collaboration.
As Tru-Cape celebrates the anniversary of the first apple harvest, Roelf notes, "From two apples to close to 50 million cartons exported each year, the story of South African apples is one of resilience, innovation, and growth.
Source: TruCape
