Villa Insights | E3 - From -50°C to +37°C, and that’s only the beginning! Canadian Agronomists Explore South Africa’s Mango Industry

Join us as Canadian agronomists from WinField United Canada embark on an unforgettable journey from the icy plains of Manitoba to the sun-drenched orchards of Hoedspruit. Discover their insights into South Africa's mango farming practices, the warmth of local hospitality, and the shared agricultural challenges and innovations that bridge continents.​

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Transcript

From -50°C to +37°C, and That’s Only the Beginning!

Canadian visitors – part of WinField United Canada's Ultimate Field Trip – were fascinated by the mango-processing facility at Mohlatsi, Hoedspruit.​

Hosting Our Partners

After nearly 24 hours in transit, crossing eight time zones, and enduring a four-hour traffic jam in Cape Town, the group faced one final challenge: stepping out of their air-conditioned tour bus into the oppressive Boland heat at Curativo South in Wellington, where temperatures soared to 37°C.​

Most of the 45 Canadian visitors, including employees of WinField United Canada and their clients, had never been to South Africa before. They arrived from some of the coldest parts of Canada—Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan—where winter temperatures routinely plunge below -20°C and can remain below 0°C for weeks.​

During a whirlwind tour from 26 February to 4 March, the group explored the rich history of the Cape Winelands and iconic sights of Cape Town before flying to Hoedspruit. They braved more heat while viewing wildlife in the Kruger National Park and got acquainted with a crop they’d never encountered before: mangoes.​

Thanks to expert planning by Namaste Corporate Events, WinField United SA’s events partner, the itinerary struck a perfect balance—allowing ample leisure time to help visitors adjust to the extreme temperature difference while navigating six jam-packed days showcasing the best South Africa has to offer, including an introduction to the pride of local agriculture.​

“This group of retails of WinField United Canada visited South Africa as part of their incentives programme to get acquainted with the WinField United business in South Africa,” says Jan Vermaak, CEO of WinField United SA. “The group members are chiefly involved in the production of canola, wheat, soya, maize, and lentils.​

“WinField United is known for its strong adjuvant technology in crop protection, particularly on permanent crops, on which the company’s South African business has done pioneering work in the past six to seven years.”​

“This opportunity to immerse ourselves in South Africa’s agricultural landscape was truly invaluable,” says Alexandra Jewell, marketing lead at WinField United Canada.​

“Our team, along with the retails, was eager to understand the intricacies of local farming practices and how agriculture plays such a pivotal role in the country’s economy. The warmth and hospitality we experienced from the locals made the entire trip even more memorable.”​

A South African Experience

Official business commenced with an introduction to WinField United SA’s operations, featuring an overview by Dr. Todd Cardwell, veteran Land O’Lakes agronomist and liaison between the company’s head office and international operations.​

Villa MD Marius Boshoff and InteliGro MD AJ Griesel discussed various aspects of WUSA’s extensive business activities and the characteristics of South Africa’s agricultural conditions and industries.​

No visit to WUSA’s Western Cape operations is complete without a braai at Curativo South’s scenic farm premises in Wellington. This event provided the Canadians and their South African hosts ample opportunity to get to know one another.​

Next up was a brandy blending experience at KWV in Paarl. While the Canadians on this tour were mostly involved in field crop production, they are not entirely unfamiliar with winemaking, thanks to Canada’s own world-class and successful wine industry in Ontario, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia.​

After spending the next morning and lunchtime at Webersburg in the Helderberg, one of the country’s oldest wine estates, it was time to board a flight to the opposite end of the country—Hoedspruit in Limpopo, on the doorstep of the Kruger National Park.​

Here, they were treated to a talk about the wildlife of Kruger, followed by a late-afternoon game drive and sundowners, while getting an up-close and personal account of Kruger on the ground from Villa agronomist and Kruger Honorary Ranger Vivian Butler.​

Subtropical Revelation

The following day, the group visited the award-winning Mohlatsi mango farm and processing facility, where farm manager Jaco Fivaz led a tour of the high-density, high-yield mango orchards. The farm produces several mango cultivars, including Tommy Atkins, Keitt, and Sensation.​

The visitors toured the packhouse, which operates for only about four months of the year, the drying unit, which dries mangoes and other fruit throughout the year, and the achar unit, which produces between 150 and 600 tonnes of achar per year, depending on fruit availability.​

What struck the group about Mohlatsi was “the dedication behind cultivating such a unique and vibrant crop,” Alexandra says.​

Following another game drive, it was time to bid the Bushveld farewell and prepare to fly back to O.R. Tambo International Airport.​

The group spent their last two days in Pretoria, doing some last-minute gift shopping at Menlyn Park, one of Africa’s largest shopping malls, and touring the imposing Voortrekker Monument, soaking up the history and the spectacular views from the top of the monument.​

“The camaraderie between the Canadians and their South African counterparts was truly heartwarming, and it felt like a celebration of shared creativity and laughter—over a few brandy and Cokes, of course!” she says.