ABOUT US
ABOUT US
Production
The farming business specializes in the production of quality table grapes, and as this is the only crop grown on the property, Môrester’s new owners are enthusiastic about focussing on producing the best quality table grapes.
The farm currently has 80 hectares of established grape vineyards under production, with a further 26 hectares of new vineyards. For this total of 106 hectares, 97 hectares have overhead nets. As the farm has an additional 60 hectares for expansion, the new owners are planning to expand production considerably over the next few years. In addition to being a well-established table grape farm, Môrester Farming has excellent development potential. Along with optimizing the production of the young and established vineyards on the farm, the farm’s potential to expand the vineyards is an extremely exciting option for the farming business.
Infrastructure
Môrester Farming also has excellent infrastructure, including two on-site packhouses designed specifically for table grape packing, office facilities, management, and staff housing, and creche and after-care facilities for the children of the farm staff. Once the grapes are packed, they are dispatched directly to the state-of-the-art QKoel cold storage facility in Piketberg. The farm’s grapes are assured of excellent cooling services as Qkoel is owned and operated by Platkloof, one of the partners in Môrester Farming (Pty) Ltd.
Energy security
Môrester has generators on the farm to provide backup generation capacity as required during ongoing electricity outages.
Farming Practices
Utilizing technology
Utilizing new technologies throughout all aspects of the farming operation is vital for the success of the farming business. This includes production, packing, and logistics, as well as the associated IT and administrative processes required for implementing these processes.
Varieties
To ensure economic sustainability, the new owners have undertaken a review of the productivity and returns of the various varieties currently growing on the farm. The operation is currently in the process of replacing the outdated and less popular varieties with improved new varieties that flourish in the farm’s microclimate and that are in good demand in the export markets.
Production practices
Daily production practices are supported by technology using electronic moisture probes, weather stations, and pest monitoring technologies. The data gathered from these devices assist with the forecasting and management of irrigation using automated irrigation with flow meters, as well as for fertilizer application and pest control. Currently, 75% is covered with overhead netting, and to improve the quality and yield from the vineyards, the business will be implementing full net cover over all the vineyards in the next two years.
Pest Control
By monitoring pest levels closely, we are able to implement controls reactively only when necessary, thus keeping crop protection applications to a minimum. This is achieved through the continuous visual monitoring of pest thresholds in the farm’s vineyards by the dedicated team of trained field monitors. This data is captured electronically and used in the decision-making of the appropriate responses, with the advice and support of a qualified chemical advisor. Harsh chemicals are being replaced by biological products, for example, the management of pests such as mealy bug, fruit fly and nematodes. Integrated Pest Management forms part of the approach to crop protection, both by the Môrester Farming management with the control of specific problem pests, as well as through broader industry-supported programs such as regional Mediterranean Fruit Fly management programs.
Plant Nutrition
In keeping with the principles of sustainable farming, Môrester continuously improves the quality of the soil through biological practices, and more than half of the fertilizer used on the farm is organic fertilizer. Cover crops are planted annually to improve the humus and carbon levels in the soil and to provide mulching which assists with moisture retention during the hot summer months.
Farming Practices
Utilizing technology
Utilizing new technologies throughout all aspects of the farming operation is vital for the success of the farming business. This includes production, packing, and logistics, as well as the associated IT and administrative processes required for implementing these processes.
Varieties
To ensure economic sustainability, the new owners have undertaken a review of the productivity and returns of the various varieties currently growing on the farm. The operation is currently in the process of replacing the outdated and less popular varieties with improved new varieties that flourish in the farm’s microclimate and that are in good demand in the export markets.
Production practices
Daily production practices are supported by technology using electronic moisture probes, weather stations, and pest monitoring technologies. The data gathered from these devices assist with the forecasting and management of irrigation using automated irrigation with flow meters, as well as for fertilizer application and pest control. Currently, 75% is covered with overhead netting, and to improve the quality and yield from the vineyards, the business will be implementing full net cover over all the vineyards in the next two years.
Pest Control
By monitoring pest levels closely, we are able to implement controls reactively only when necessary, thus keeping crop protection applications to a minimum. This is achieved through the continuous visual monitoring of pest thresholds in the farm’s vineyards by the dedicated team of trained field monitors. This data is captured electronically and used in the decision-making of the appropriate responses, with the advice and support of a qualified chemical advisor. Harsh chemicals are being replaced by biological products, for example, the management of pests such as mealy bug, fruit fly and nematodes. Integrated Pest Management forms part of the approach to crop protection, both by the Môrester Farming management with the control of specific problem pests, as well as through broader industry-supported programs such as regional Mediterranean Fruit Fly management programs.
Plant Nutrition
In keeping with the principles of sustainable farming, Môrester continuously improves the quality of the soil through biological practices, and more than half of the fertilizer used on the farm is organic fertilizer. Cover crops are planted annually to improve the humus and carbon levels in the soil and to provide mulching which assists with moisture retention during the hot summer months.