We visit Hartbeespoort which is situated on the slopes of Magaliesberg. The Hartebeespoort dam is the heartbeat of the small town that attracts thousands of tourists every year. We speak to The manager of the Harties Cableway, Iain Gunn, who tells us how the dam was initially built with farmers in mind. Here, guests are still taken to the lands and then pick the fruits and vegetables that are then presented to them later that day. The Brits / Hartbeespoort area is situated on the main road to South Africa’s recreation hub, Sun City. Adventure enthusiasts are spoiled for choice in this particular stretch of the country. Everywhere you look, there are hiking trails, water sports and all kind of recreation options to enjoy.
We visit Gert Janse van Rensburg on his farm Langplaas a short distance outside Brits. Gert realised the value of soil health for a farmer long ago. The farm makes use of a rotation system long time ago that soil health is invaluable. They make use of rotation systems to put food back into the ground. Beet is a perfect choice for the region as it grows well and quickly in summer, and the warmer winters than elsewhere also contribute to this.
Next up, we visit Salgado's Quality Foods where Marco Venter tells us the story of how they started producing vegetable chips in 2001. They focus specifically on beetroot, sweet potato and butternut chips. Vegetable chips are a great way to get nutrients in the body while enjoying a delicious snack.
In the studio, presenter Rozanne McKenzie talks to Marelize Scholts, MD of Federated Farmers while Theo Vorster talks to Lindie Stroebel, general manager of the Product Marketing Association in Southern Africa. They talk about price mechanisms and sales channels. Lindie talks to us about how supply and demand determine the price of good, but she also takes a much closer look at the factors that determine supply and demand. She shares markets in three groups with the export market, supermarket and fresh produce market and mentions that each market should be fully understood.
Next we visit Hartswater in the Northern Cape where a revival of the cotton industry is currently underway. NIC is broadcast weekly, every Thursday evening at 18:00 on kykNET, from now until June 27, 2019.