Prince Albert

farming and produce

tel: +27 (0)23 5411 366 fax: +27 (0)23 5411 788 e-mail: princealberttourism@intekom.co.za

Angora goats Figs Flowers Milk & Dairy products

Olives Witblitz Wine

thinking of buying a farm? click here

wil jy 'n plaas koop? click here

Angora goats

Gannahoek Angora Stud or the Zwartberg Angora Stud

Figs

Swartbult Figs - 13km north of Prince Albert on the road towards the N1. Jeanette and Dolf Marais' farm is the largest dried fig producer in South Africa and one of the biggest private dried fruit processors in the southern hemisphere. 3000 trees yield 40 tons of White Genoa figs per year which convert to 5-7 tons of dried fruit. Visitors are welcome to buy dried and fresh fruit. Please telephone Jeanette or Dolf for an appointment. 023 5411 924

Weltevrede Fig and Guest Farm - 25km from Prince Albert on the Weltevrede Road.

Weltevrede is a working farm and the main crop is Adam's figs which are sun-dried. Visit us during the harvesting and drying season - January 'til May and we can show you how the figs are picked, processed and packed.

Where to buy our figs

We also grow oranges and naartjies and rear ostrich. Visitors are most welcome to view all the farm activities. Group lunches or dinners can be arranged.

We also offer a guided hike over the Swartberg mountains from the farm into "The Hell" during the cooler months.

Contact Liesl at 023 5411 229 for more details

Click here to visit our website and find out about accommodation at Weltevrede

Milk & Dairy products

Gay's Guernsey Dairy - at the top of Kerk Street. Gay's Guernsey cows produce an average of 450 litres of milk per day. Visit the dairy for farm fresh milk, yogurt, cream, amasi, feta, hard cheeses and fruit juices.

WEEKDAYS: 07:00 to 09:00

10:00 to 12:00

16:00 to 18:00

SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS: 07:00 to 10:00

16:30 to 18:00

For tours - including school groups, tel Gay van Hasselt at 023 5411 538

Click here for photographs and more information

Olives

Swartrivier Olive Farm - 5kms out of Prince Albert on the Kruidfontein Road (turn at the Prince Albert Golf Club). Jan & Annalien Bothma harvest 50 - 80 tons of olives per year from 3000 trees - Manzanilla & Mission for processing and Leccino for oil. Tours and tasting by prior arrangement - Tel: 023 5411 917 Click here for photographs and information on olives and sales

Kredouw Olive Farm

Situated at the foot of the Kredouw Pass in the picturesque Prince Albert Valley, Kredouw Olive Farm now boasts an olive press for the processing of cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. This oil is extracted from a selection of five varieties of handpicked Italian Olives, grown on the farm, and blended to achieve a unique flavour. The farm shop sells olive oil and products as well as almonds and other farm products and has a viewing window of the press, visitors are welcome to see the operation first hand. Olive picking and pressing takes place from the end of March to the end of June.

Please contact us on Tel: 023 5411 105 / 023 5411 663 or admin@kredouwfarm.com. Visit our website at www.kredouwfarm.com.

The Prince Albert Olives shop, Hope Street next to Olienhof Caravan Park, is open to the public from Monday to Friday, from 09h00 to 13h00

Our own Prince Albert Olives won a gold medal at the recent South African Olive Industry Association (SAOIA) Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition. Their Karoo Blend, a blend of Frantoio, Coratina, Favalosa and Mission olives, was judged the top "delicate" oil in the Commercial category.

Fred Badenhorst, owner, and Essie Esterhuizen, olive oil maker, were understandably delighted. Unfortunately neither was able to attend the awards ceremony but Fred told the Friend that getting the news late on 31 August was a wonderful and emotional moment. Essie summed up by saying "We are walking tall!"

Both men are proud to have won Gold the first time they entered the prestigious competition, especially because the blend was a product of the Great Karoo. Essie explained that olive oil producers in other parts of the Western Cape believed that making delicate oil in the Great Karoo was impossible because of the harsh climate. "We believed otherwise. By adapting our irrigation schedules and tweaking the management of our orchards, we showed that we could. We also believe that South African consumers’ tastes lean towards delicate olive oils."

Fred and Essie are grateful for the contribution of Gerrie Duvenhage of Morgenster Olives, whose guidance in developing Karoo Blend was important. Although he too believed at first that the Karoo could not produce a delicate olive oil, he was always on hand to give advice and help. Both men are clearly passionate about Prince Albert Olives and both produce a high quality product. Essie explains that it took some time before he was satisfied with Karoo Blend and says that he still has a lot to learn about the science and "feel" of blending.

For Fred winning Gold is reward indeed for years of hard work, discipline and pursuing a dream with passion and determination. He says he knew nothing about growing olives when he bought his first farm in the Prince Albert district in 1998. However he saw that the harvesting season was different to other major farming activities and consequently could provide employment for most of the year. Today, Fred employs over 50 people permanently on his farms in the Prince Albert and Leeu-Gamka areas, at the olive nursery and at his olive press.

The new olive press building was designed in-house and built by Clive Cleaver. It houses the olive press and has storage facilities for 90 000 litres of oil. It also has offices, storage areas for processed olives, tasting and demonstration rooms along with a deli shop. This is clearly a team that dreams big and is satisfied with nothing but 'gold.'

The thorough research they have done and their feel for the product are also evident in new branding and labelling of Prince Albert Olives. The label combines Karoo and Victorian Prince Albert motifs, as well as modern lettering and unique shades of yellow, light green and bone white. The quirky touches of a tiny rooster, a field mouse and an owl on the label are especially delightful.

What comes next? Fred says that he while he may now have plans to spend more time in the Wilderness and at his game farm in Somerset East, he and his family remain committed to Prince Albert and the olive industry. Fred’s wife, Anobe, plans to develop the cosmetics side of their olive crop.

With a smile Essie says, "We’re going hell for leather forward! We want to be in the medals again next year." He believes that the gold medal is good for the local olive oil industry and also for Prince Albert.

(front page story from the Prince Albert Friend September 2010)

Witblits

Fransie Pienaar Museum - "Witblits stoker" - see the distillery and taste the "white lightning" - please telephone 023 5411 172 to arrange a tasting

Wine

Bergwater Vineyards: The largest winery in the Great Karoo.

Wine tasting and sales at the vineyard in the Prince Albert Valley.

Monday to Thursday 09h00 to 16h30, Friday 09h00 to 16h00 and Saturday 10h00 to 15h00. Please contact us at 023 5411 703 or wine@bergwater.co.za

Situated in the exquisite Prince Albert Valley just outside the village of Prince Albert, the Bergwater Farms comprise 5 farms totalling 3000 hectares of which 110 hectares of vineyards will be established (70 hectares to date), the remainder of the land will be utilized as a nature reserve.

The Prince Albert Valley
The small Prince Albert Valley is 20 km long, averages 1 km wide and lies at the foot of the Swartberg Mountain Nature Reserve. The 14 farms that occupy the valley produce wine, fruit, olives, vegetable seed, and also breed ostriches. Natural sources in the mountain supply the valley with pure mountain water for irrigation.

Climate and Soil (Terroir)
A moderate climate prevails throughout the growing season, with a southerly wind cooling down the valley at night. This sharp drop in temperatures enables the grapes to preserve the rich aromas naturally embodied during the sunny days. The vineyards are planted at an altitude of 700 to 900 meters above sea level. The average annual rainfall is only 200mm with a result the vineyards are irrigated with quality spring mountain water good enough to bottle or drink. Due to low rainfall, dry climate, favourable winds for circulation of air, new soil etc. the risks for diseases is very low. New medium potential soils of different types with different slopes give us the option to optimize the location of the different cultivars. These conditions along with the quality of the natural spring water contribute to producing wines of exceptional quality and character.

The Winery.
The winery was designed by a well-known local architect Mr John Whitton, the aim is to blend in with the beautiful environment using natural materials where possible and to reflect the Victorian history of Prince Albert . The cellar will have the capacity to process 1500 tons of grapes, large enough to accommodate all the produce from the Prince Albert Valley

The Wines.
During 2002 the official status "Wine of Origin Prince Albert Valley" was announced by the Wine and Spirits Board, The wines are bottled under the Bergwater Vineyards label and trademark. Our wines have won various medals and awards and were also served in the Business Class of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Wines available internationally are Merlot Reserve, Shiraz Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, Rose Reserve and Royal Reserve (Red Blend).

Winemaker.
The winemaker - Mariska Schreuder, a BSc Agric (Viticulture and Oenology) graduate from the University of Stellenbosch. Specialist consultant - Doctor Pierre Marais from Stellenbosch.

Owners
Bergwater Vineyards is a joint venture between the two brothers Heimie and Stephan Schoeman, and Pim de Koekkoek the Managing Director of DKPG, a Dutch Investors Group. We as owners of Bergwater Vineyards are privileged to have the opportunity to responsibly manage our precious resources to produce world class wines.

We offer accommodation on the farm in a self-catering guesthouse - click here for more information

Fernskloof

Wine Farm

Fernskloof is situated 18kms outside of town, towards Klaarstroom. Family owned and operated, we are passionate about all facets of winemaking.

We strive to produce handcrafted wines with personality, from organically grown grapes. Come visit us and experience the fruit of our labour.

We are open from 9 - 5 from Monday to Saturday, and on Sundays, it all depends on how big lunch was, so please phone ahead.

Open Monday - Saturday, 09h00 - 17h00. By prior arrangement on Sunday.

Contact Diederik Le Grange Tel. 023 541-1702

We offer accommodation at Angeliersbosch Guesthouse, click here for details

Reiersvlei Wine Cellar Russels & Elise Inggs Tel: 023 5411 983/556

Visit the Reiersvlei Wine Cellar at the foot of the Swartberg and taste handmade quality wines produced and bottled on the farm in the Prince Albert Valley. Situated 24km from Prince Albert on the R407 towards Meiringspoort, the farms lies on the slopes of the Swartberg, 860 meters above sea level. The tasting room in the historic homestead has been lovingly restored and is open from Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00-15:00 or by appointment.

SoetKaroo Wine Estate ...dessert wines grown, made and bottled on Herman & Susan's little village farm at 56 Kerkstraat - in the main road of Prince Albert! Visitors are welcome to see the vineyard and cellar, tasting and sales from 8h30-17h00. Closed on Sundays.

Tel: 023 5411768 click here for photographs and more information

Flowers

Vergeet-my-niet translates as "Forget me not"

Pam grows flowers and creates bouquets and floral arrangements

for functions and special occasions, including weddings.

Her rose-petal "confetti" adds a special Prince Albert touch

to weddings here and further afield.

The orchards and strawberry beds at Vergeet-my-niet

provide delicious fruit for the local coffee shops and restaurants.

You can buy fresh fruit, including succulent strawberries, in season

and dried fruit and homemade jams year-round.

Click here for photographs and more information.

Top of page Home Page

The following information was compiled after many enquiries about what to look at when buying a farm in the Prince Albert district.

The successful purchase of a farm depends upon your obtaining advice from experts. Without their support and the valuable information they can supply, the possibility of your making a mistake escalates.

If you need a loan from a bank or any financial institution they will require a full feasibility study. This includes information on what and how you will farm, a comprehensive budget indicating expected income and expenses and details on how you would pay off the loan.

Some experts who can assist you:

Department of Agriculture

Agriculturist - Mr. Charl du Plessis, cell: 082 651 7465

e-mail: charldp@agric.gov.wcape.za

Charl du Plessis supplies technical support free of charge. For example: value of the farm, the condition of the land, how many animals you can put on the land.

Department of Water affairs and Forestry (DWAF)

Regional Manager - Mr Deon Haasbroek, office no. 044 272 4638

Cell: 083 480 75 77

Deon Haasbroek can provide information about particular farm’s water rights. Any water rights must be registered at DWAF. In the Prince Albert district, which is part of the Great Karoo (semi-desert), water is a rare commodity of high value.

The Prince Albert Water Forum was put in place by government to handle all water related issues for the region. Contact the Chairperson: Mr. Deon Gouws Tel: 023 5411 723 Cell: 082 774 8885 e-mail: oudekloofboerdery@cybertrade.co.za

Department of Land Affairs

Regional Manager - Mr Barry Levinrad, office no: 044 873 2254

Cell: 082 369 0157 or 082 577 5567

Barry Levinrad can provide information about the ESTA Law which will impact upon you if you provide your workers with houses on your farm. He can also provide information about black empowerment and land reform.

Department of Labour

Regional Manager - Mr. Fortuin, Office no. 044 2724370

Mr. Fortuin can provide information about Labour law, minimum wages, free training facilities etc.

Private Consultants

There are many consultants who can offer assistance, particularly with regard to business plans and help on how to manage your farm. You would obviously have to pay for such service. One such organisation is Agri-Africa, which did a full feasibility study on Agriculture and Tourism for the Prince Albert Municipality region. You can contact Professor Kassier at 021 88 66 826 / 082 950 9294 or at wek@iafrica.com For more information, visit their website at www.agri-africa.co.za

The value of farms in the Prince Albert region depends on the following:

Soil / field type and land size
Quantity of water
Infrastructure on the farm
Development
Location
Livestock, if any

Farms in the Prince Albert district include

	Farms situated at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains, mainly fields under irrigation, and
	Stock farms on the land stretching into the Great Karoo. (Flatlands)

Irrigation Farms

Irrigation farms cover 3% of the Prince Albert Municipal district. They are situated at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains – the source of the water supply. The chief farming activities in this area are Deciduous Fruit for the export market, Olives, Vineyards, Vegetable seed production, Lucerne / Alfalfa and Ostrich.

Irrigation farms are normally smaller than stock-farm lands. The value of irrigational farms depend on how much water is registered for each specific farm. Each farm's water rights are registered at the Department of Water Affairs (DWAF). Contact Deon Haasbroek at the DWAF for information: Cell 083 480 75 77.

Stock-Farms

Local stock-farmers run Sheep, Angora goats and Game. These farms are much bigger than irrigation farms and are dependent on rainfall. The average rainfall for the past 8 years was 241 mm per annum. An economical stock-farm size will be 5000+ hectare, depending on the condition of the fields. Your family and partner income requirements and income generation abilities will also influence the size of farm you might consider purchasing.

For more information please contact me at my e-mail oudekloofboerdery@cybertrade.co.za

May you succeed in buying the right farm! Deon Gouws

20/2/2004

Top of page Home Page

Hierdie inligtingstuk is saamgestel na vele navrae oor die aankoop van plase in die Prince Albert Distrik.

Met die aankoop van 'n plaas/plase met suksesvolle resultate word daar voorgestel dat jy verskeie kundiges sal kontak om jou te adviseer om die regte besluit te neem. Sonder die nodige inligting kan dit jou dalk duur te staan kom.

Indien kapitaal geleen sal moet word, sal die instansie wat die geld voorskiet, ‘n volledige besigheidsplan verlang. Dit sluit in voorleggings van, warmee en hoe geboer sal word, begrotings van verwagte inkomste en uitgawes insluitend hoe die lening terug betaal sal word.

Kundiges wat aanbeveel word is as volg:

Departement van Landbou

Landbouvoorligter - Mnr Charl du Plessis, sel no. 082 651 7465

e-pos adress: charldp@agric.gov.wcape.za

Mnr. Charl du Plessis lewer gratis tegniese dienste en sal jou bv. kan help met die waardebepaling van die plaas, die drakrag van jou grond, hoeveel vee jy op jou plaas kan aanhou ensovoorts.

Departement van Waterwese en Bosbou

Streekverteenwoordiger - Mnr Deon Haasbroek, Kantoor no. 044 2724638, Sel: 083 480 75 77

Mnr. Haasbroek sal aan jou die inligting kan verskaf van hoeveel water die plaas op geregtig is. Enige water wat bekom word, moet by Departement van Waterwese geregistreer wees. Met Prince Albert geleë in die Karoo is water 'n skaars artikel en van groot waarde.

Prince Albert Waterforum is 'n struktuur wat deur die regering in plek gestel is waar alle watersake van Prince Albert gehanteer word.

Voorsitter: Deon Gouws Tel: 023 5411 723 Sel 082 774 8885

e-pos: oudekloofboerdery@cybertrade.co.za

Departement van Grondsake

Areabestuurder - Mnr. Barry Levinrad, kantoor no: 044 873 2254

Sel no: 082 369 0157 of 082 577 5567

Mnr. Levinrad sal jou alle inligting kan verskaf rondom die ESTA wet wat op jou van toepassing gaan wees en wat se invloed dit op jou as boer/werkgewer gaan hê indien jy sou besluit om werkers op die plaas permanente huisvesting te bied . Mnr. Levinrad sal ook vir jou kan inligting kan verskaf rondom sake soos Swartbemagtiging en Grondhervorming.

Departement van Arbeid

Areabestuurder - Mnr Fortuin, Kantoor no: 044 2724370

Mnr. Fortuin sal aan jou inligting verskaf oor die arbeidwetgewing, minumum loonwet, gratis opleiding ensovoorts.

Privaat Konsultante

Daar is heelwat konsultante wat, teen betaling, behulpsaam kan wees, veral met die opstel van besigheidsplanne en hulp met die bestuur van die boerdery. Skakel my vir meer inligting.

Een so’n organisasie is Agri-Africa wat in 2003 'n volledige lewensvatbaarheidstudie op Landbou en Toerisme in die Prince Albert Distrik gedoen het. U kan Professor Kassier skakel by 021 88 66 826/082 950 9294 of by wek@iafrica.co. Meer inligting kan ook van hul webtuiste bekom by www.agri-africa.co.za

Die waarde van plase in Prince Albert Distrik word bepaal deur die volgende:

Grondtipe en grootte
Waterhoeveelheid en kwaliteit van veld
Infrastruktuur
Ontwikkeling
Ligging
Lewendehawe, indien enige

Prince Albert se landelike gebied bestaan hoofsaaklik uit twee tipe boerdery, nl.

	Die plase geleê aan die voet van die Swartberge wat besproeiingsgrond het, en
	Die Veeplase wat na die Grootkaroo toe geleê is. (Gewoonlik sonder besproeingsgrond)

Besproeiingsplase

Die Besproëingsplase, wat ongeveer 3 % van Prince Albert Munisipale distrik uitmaak, se water word gevoed vanaf die Swartberge. In die area word hoofsaaklik met sagtevrugte, olywe, wyndruiwe, groentesaad en lusern en volstruise geboer. Die plase is oor die algemeen kleiner teenoor die plase wat verder geleë is vanaf die Swartberge. Die waarde van die plase hang hoofsaaklik af van die hoeveelheid water wat saam met die grond geregistreer is.

Die plase se waterregte is geregistreer by Departement van Waterwese en Bosbou (DWAF). Die kontak persoon by DWAF oor waterregte is Mnr. Deon Haasbroek. Sel: 083 480 75 77

Veeplase

Op die veeplase word hoofsaaklik met skaap, angorabokke en wild geboer. Die plase is groter as die besproeiingsplase en is afhanklik van die reënval. Huidiglik is die grootte van 'n tipiese veeplaas 5 000 ha +. Dit hang grootliks af van die drakrag van die veld wat sal bepaal hoeveel vee jy kan aanhou, en natuurlik wat jy en jou familie/vennote nodig sal hê om van te lewe nadat voorsiening gemaak is vir die boerdery.

Indien jy nog inligting verlang kan jy my gerus kontak by e-pos adres: oudekloofboerdery@cybertrade.co.za

Alle voorspoed met die aankoop van jou plaas! Deon Gouws 20/02/2004

Top of page Home Page