1. Production

1.1.1 Select cultivars with characteristics suited to your climatic and soil conditions to ensure long-term sustainability.

• Determine the marketability of the cultivar (market, demand, timing, size, keeping quality, yield).
• Only use healthy certified plant material.
• Use the recommended rootstock for your circumstances and cultivar.
• Do fruit and leaf mineral analysis.
• Contact your local consultant for planting guidelines.

1.2.2 Ensure good fruit size and post-harvest storability by thinning and using the correct cultural practices.

1.1.3 Apply Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) principles.

1.1.4 Use only registered pesticides and plant protection products.

• According to the requirements of the country of destination.
• Concentrations and withholding periods are critical.
• The use of pesticides varies according to the specific fruit kind. For instance, what can be used for nectarines may not necessarily be used for plums.
• Refer to regulations of residue limits and to chemical companies for withholding periods.
• Refer to Hortgro Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) list
• Monitor quarantine pests regularly (Fruitfly, False Codling Moth, etc.).
• Follow integrated pest management (IPM) principles.

1.1.5 Follow sound ethical trade principles as agreed by the sustainability initiative for SA.

• Clear guidelines are provided at SIZA
• Obtain applicable accreditations as demanded from DALRRD/market/client (HACCP, BRC, etc.)