text hereCeres is one of the largest deciduous fruit and vegetable producing districts in South Africa. Fresh fruit is marketed both locally and internationally, as are other products such as fruit juices, dried fruit, potatoes and onions. The first Ceres wines have recently appeared on the market and local spring water is sold world-wide.

Prior to 1900, fruit was produced on a small scale for local markets. Large-scale development of the export fruit industry began in 1910. This was when the railway line through Michell’s Pass was completed, forming a direct rail link to Cape Town. The large-scale planting of trees took place in the Warm Bokkeveld, resulting in agriculture in this area becoming concentrated almost exclusively on fruit production. Farmers in the area were pioneers in the development of the industry and names such as DJ Joubert, PM Cillie and J Sarembock spring to mind in this regard.

An inaugural meeting, chaired by DJ Joubert, was held on 2 September 1922, in order to establish a co-operative society. The new association was called The Ceres Fruit Growers Co-operative Association Limited and its goals were to promote the interest of export fruit producers, to facilitate the communal purchasing of packing and spraying materials, as well as fertilizer, and to investigate the possibility of centralised fruit packing.

Many factors influenced the growth of the industry. Rudimentary packing facilities, limited spraying material, primitive spray pumps and the 1933 depression restricted the growth of the industry. Exports came to halt upon the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. and only resumed when the war ended. The Deciduous Fruit Board came into being and Mr. JA Fernhout became the first Ceres representative on the board.

Before the Second World War, producers exported their own fruit under their own trademark but after the war the Deciduous Fruit Board took control over all exports. The idea of centralised packing became more popular. The Deciduous Fruit Board took the lead in experimental packing on the Ceres Drying Floor for the 1946/47 season. The Board did not wish to undertake fruit packing and the Ceres Fruit Growers Co-op Association was deemed the ideal body to undertake this function. Construction and the installation of machinery began on the premises of the CFG Co-operative Ass. Ltd. Besides centralising marketing, the communal marketing of fruit and quality control brought greater stability to the farmers and the region. Other packing facilities in the other districts followed suit and packed centrally.