Jonathan Willows and Laine Collet, business partners in a pineapple venture, produce 7,000 tons of Cayenne pineapples annually from around 14.5 million plants spread over 250 hectares. Their operation is located on the 647-hectare farm in Brooklyn near East London. The initiative to diversify into pineapple cultivation was driven by the need to find a more drought-resilient crop amidst the challenges faced by their dryland dairy farm during a severe drought in 2019. After researching and visiting the largest pineapple producer in South Africa, they decided to lease the Brooklyn farm, which was already suited for pineapple cultivation, albeit facing numerous challenges such as access issues, theft, and financial constraints in initiating production.
Despite these initial hurdles, by 2021, Willows and Collet had managed to overcome the majority of these obstacles, planting 7.1 million pineapple plants. They have adopted a production cycle that allows for harvesting fruit of optimal size between 18 and 24 months from planting, with a second harvest 18 months later. The cycle on Brooklyn is completed in 4.5 years, benefiting from the region's favorable heat units. Post-harvest, plants are mulched to prepare the soil for the next planting cycle, with some of the plant material also used as silage for their dairy farm.
To ensure year-round production, the partners employ staggered planting and make use of topographical variations and flower induction techniques for planning harvests. They face challenges from pests, diseases, and weeds due to the hot, humid coastal climate, which necessitates comprehensive pre-plant fumigation and spray programs. They are exploring mechanical control measures for nematodes and adapting fertilization programs based on comprehensive soil sample analysis.
Located just 30km from the juicing facility Summerpride Foods, Brooklyn enjoys a logistical advantage in transport costs compared to other producers. The partnership between Willows and Collet has also positively impacted local employment and community relations, contributing to a decrease in theft. They plan to expand their pineapple production by another 60 hectares over the next three years to further increase output.
Source: Farmer's Weekly