On 6 April the South African Flower Growers Association , SAFGA , apply the first 2022 Growers ’ sidereal day . The tie-up unremarkably organizes two grower meetings per year where growers , ask in fellow agriculturist and table service providers who are members of the tie , to visit their farms . The majority of SAFGA members is in the northerly part of South Africa render their garden truck to Multiflora auction bridge which is deposit in Johannesburg . Multiflora is the only prime auction in South Africa . Growers also render their products direct to bouquet makers and wholesaler in throughout South Africa . This is explain by Jac Duif , Secretary of the South African Flower Growers Association .
The SAFGA association ’s chair , Dr. Pierre Adriaanse from Unisa ( University of South Africa ) was aroused to receive 80 person who attended the raiser ’s day . Amongst the visitors were also two young Dutch horticulture students doing their practical in South Africa .
The first visit was at Selemo Valley Farms , a household business in Tarlton , 40 km west of Johannesburg . Selomo Valley Farms has 20 ha of greenhouses and produces mostly chrysanthemum , natural and dyed , for the export market in addition to other flower and vegetables for the local and exportation markets .
The next sojourn was to the baby’s room of Ball Straathof in Muldersdrift . Ball Straathof is part of the well - known international Ball Group and they are the main local suppliers of flower seeds , ballyhoo , and vegetative materials to wholesale nurseries and bloom growers in South Africa . " This innovative and well - run baby’s room is always a very interesting venue to chew the fat and get wind more about unexampled and improved change for the nursery and blossom markets . "
After these visit , the mathematical group was do by to a lovely lunch at the Usambara Restaurant , not far from Ball Straathof . The meeting was addressed by the Rev. Stefan Zeelie who runs the “ Together we Bloom ” organization . This is an formation that cater nutrient and teaching textile to primary schools with underprivileged children . They also attend to needy elderly multitude of all races .
Their fund are derived from donation from horticultural businesses such as LVG Potplants and SAFGA is also one of their presenter . “ Together we Bloom ” is a registered tending organization and is managed by a card of director .
The other speaker , Ben van Dijk , of Buzz Electrical , enlighten the interview about the possible use of Solar Power on their farm . " South Africa presently has veritable power cuts and this can be disastrous for crops in greenhouses on raging sunny days . However , almost every farm has its own generator but with the very high price of diesel , solar power will be the answer for now and in the future . The South African clime is idealistic for solar power generation . "
The South African bloom manufacture was strike hard during the starting time of Covid 19 in 2020 , and from March to May the flower auction bridge , Multiflora was close and growers had to destruct tons of their products , Duif explains . " However , the industry recuperated chop-chop and flower price have been satisfactory for the retiring year two geezerhood . Most flowers produced around Johannesburg are for the local South African market , unlike the products grow in the Cape Province and Kwazulu Natal , such as Proteas and fynbos are grow primarily for export . "
