Fresh Notes: Packhouse Action Group (PAG) Meeting
Held on 14 March 2024
Communication
Handling Protocols for Pome and Stone Fruit
Contact: Johan Strydom
- Critical guidelines for handling and export of pome and stone fruit are available on the Hortgro website.
- Guidelines summarise key elements in the handling chain and are supported by detailed documents explaining both the “what” and the “why”.
Key Supporting Documents:
- Pome Fruit:
- 3.1.5 Bruising and Control (Finlay): Minimising bruising from harvest to packing.
- 8.4.1 Basic Cooling Principles: Cultivar cooling sensitivities and temperature guidelines (including loadshedding).
- 9.7.1 Loading of Reefer Containers – Fruit: Training tool for container loading.
- Stone Fruit:
- 11.2.1A1 Plum Cultivar Shipping Temperature Regimes: Shipping temperature guidelines for plum cultivars.
These guidelines are important for:
- Production managers
- Packhouse managers
- Cold store managers
- Logistics service providers
- Clearing and forwarding agents
- ExportersIt is recommended to share this information within organisations to ensure all responsible staff are aware of handling and export requirements.
Conventional Shipping Protocols
Contact: Bernard Henning
- The PPECB blue book (Act 9 of 1983) is in use but not currently implemented for conventional shipping vessels.
- The revised Regulation R917 will be updated in due course.
Logistics Chain Efficiencies
Contact: Jacques du Preez
- 20% more fruit of all kinds exported early this season.
- Fewer wind delays in February allowed for catch-up in vessel processing.
- New management in place at Transnet (national and Cape Town Port).
- Daily feedback on port performance is provided to the fruit industry at a “War Room”.
- Hortgro is giving new management space to improve before pursuing claims or negative media.
- Private sector participation at Cape Town port is being pursued to improve throughput and productivity.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Work Group
Contact: Prof Wiehann Steyn / Jacques du Preez
- Hortgro is appointing an ESG person (from 1 April 2024) to drive the ESG work group, covering:
- Packaging recycling
- Food waste
- Sustainability
- Environmental, carbon, and HR issues
Plastic Work Group Issues for ESG:
- Colour coding of plastic strapping
- Encourage plastic recyclers to become BRC accredited for food contact recycled plastic
- Become conversant with food safety legislation/standards
- Coordinate industry-wide response to pressure suppliers to meet deadlines
- Become conversant with the UN Plastics Treaty (to be finalised by end of 2024)
Next Generation Packaging Systems for Hi-Cube Containers
Contact: Prof Wiehann Steyn
- A report will be available after August.
Packhouse Benchmarking Project
Contact: Willem Coetzee / Hendrik Claassen / Francois Malan
- Frudata has completed the first round of benchmarking; packhouses have provided positive feedback.
Packhouse Water and Energy Management Projects
Contact: Karlien Heyns / Eddie Vienings
- Project reports are available on the PAG website under Environmental 2024 PAG Water Phase 6 and Energy Phase 3.
- The PAG Water project faces challenges due to inconsistent water-use metering across the industry.
- Standardised metering is needed for accurate usage assessment and conservation.
- Blue North proposes an industry-wide metering campaign, including education and practical implementation.
- Consistent monthly recording and allocation of water use to specific activities will enable better management and sustainability.”You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” Consistent metering is key to the success of the PAG Water project.
Fire Risk Project
Contact: Koos Bouwer
- The project is scheduled for completion by end-August.
Market Access Feedback
Contact: Jacques du Preez / Lindi Benic
- Mexico: Inspector expected weeks 16–23 (Apr–Jun).
- Taiwan: Submissions made regarding previous codling moth interceptions. Two inspectors will visit orchards and packhouses, focusing on sites with previous interceptions. Arrival delayed by 2 weeks; expected end of April. Fruit bins must be covered during transport.
- Thailand: Two officials completed the Thailand apple audit inspection; visits were well received. Officials impressed by traceability systems.
- Philippines: Market access process is ongoing.
PAG Disciplines and Coordinators
Please contact the relevant person if you have any queries regarding the PAG.
- Chairman: Koos Bouwer (bouweb@orangenet.co.za)
- Engineering: Henk Ryke (henk@tad.co.za), Koos Bouwer (bouweb@orangenet.co.za)
- Packaging: Bryce MacIntyre (bryce.macintyre@gmail.com)
- Environmental Footprint: Eddie Vienings (eddie@bluenorth.co.za), Karlien Heyns (karlien@bluenorth.co.za), Hugh Campbell (hugh@hortgro.co.za)
- Packhouse Large: Francois Malan (francois.malan@cfg.co.za), Willem Coetzee (willem@dutoit.com), Hein Punt (info@lanko.co.za)
- Packhouse Small: Hendrik Claassen (hendrik@bellafrutta.co.za), Thinus Loock (thinus@jjloock.co.za)
- Post-Harvest Quality: Dr Elke Crouch (elke@sun.ac.za), Henk Griessel (henkg@tru-cape.co.za), Jaco Moelich (jaco.moelich@fruitways.co.za)
- Logistics: Johan Strydom (pslog@mweb.co.za), Andy Connell (andy@abarc.co.za)
- Communication Strategy: Richard Hurndall (hurndallr@gmail.com), Koos Bouwer (bouweb@orangenet.co.za), Elise-Marie Steenkamp (elise-marie@hortgro.co.za)
- PPECB: Bernardus Henning (bernardush@ppecb.com)
- FPEF: Werner van Rooyen (werner@fpef.co.za)
- DALRRD:
- Director: Food Safety and Quality Assurance, Billy Makhafola (BillyM@dalrrd.gov.za)
- Regional Manager: NPPPIS WC Directorate: Inspection Services, Gcobani Tsako (GcobaniT@dalrrd.gov.za)
- Hortgro: Jacques du Preez (jacques@hortgro.co.za), Lindi Benic (lindi@hortgro.co.za)
- Research: Prof Wiehann Steyn (wiehann@hortgro.co.za)
- SIZA: Werner van Dyk (werner@siza.co.za)