{"id":405,"date":"2017-07-27T14:55:22","date_gmt":"2017-07-27T12:55:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/safe.co.za\/SAFENews\/?p=405"},"modified":"2017-07-31T13:47:18","modified_gmt":"2017-07-31T11:47:18","slug":"profile-on-marblehall-farm-manager-frans-vorsatz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/safe.co.za\/SAFENews\/?p=405","title":{"rendered":"Profile on Marblehall farm manager Frans Vorsatz"},"content":{"rendered":"

NAME:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Frans Vorsatz\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

FARM\u2019S NAME:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Marblehall<\/p>\n

AREA: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Limpopo<\/p>\n

PRODUCE\/COMMODITY: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Citrus<\/p>\n

FARM SIZE: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>920 hectares, of which 493 hectares are planted<\/p>\n

HECTARES BREAKDOWN: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>376 ha oranges<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/strong>59 ha lemons<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/strong>58 ha soft citrus<\/p>\n

NETTING:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>The first 109 ha to be completed by December 2017<\/p>\n

PACK-HOUSE ON THE FARM: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Yes\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

EXPORT MARKETS: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Europe, Russia, Middle East & Far East<\/p>\n

ACCREDITATIONS:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 SIZA, GLOBAL G.A.P & GRASP<\/p>\n

\"Frans<\/p>\n

A hands-on farm manager who believes a farmer\u2019s footprints should still be found on the land, Frans Vorsatz follows an open-door policy when it comes to his farmworkers. For the last five years he has been managing SAFE\u2019s Marblehall farm, situated near the Limpopo town with the twin name. Marblehall is the Cape Town-based citrus and table grape producer-exporter\u2019s largest farm by far and the latest addition to its group of farms in South Africa.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Tell us about a day in the life of Frans Vorsatz?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I believe farming, in essence, remains farming. You still have to walk among the orchards yourself, spend time with your farmworker teams as they prune and pick, and work with them. That\u2019s the right way to do it.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. How has farming changed over the last five years and what are some of the\u00a0<\/strong>changes you have implemented?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      With 16 years\u2019 experience in citrus farming, I have witnessed agriculture change over the years, mostly due to rapidly-evolving technology. The latest new development at Marblehall is the covering of 109 hectares of orchards with netting, with 70 more hectares planned for 2018. This area is prone to hail and in a few minutes an entire year\u2019s hard work and meticulous orchard preparation could disappear in front of your eyes. With netting, we\u2019ll sleep better as it ensures top-quality, blemish-free fruit.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. How do you ensure the social upliftment, as well as safety and healthy living conditions of your farmworkers?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        I always tell my workers th\"Marblehallat they are welcome to discuss any issues with me. I think it helps that I understand a bit of Sotho and Pedi. It is very important to cultivate mutual respect and trust, and I believe that content farmworkers equal successful farming. If your workers are happy, you can farm with ease. If they\u2019re not, you can just as well close your farm gates \u2013 that\u2019s for sure! We also provide our farmworkers and their children with primary healthcare services, rendered by a permanent clinic on the farm, while the majority of workers stay in fully-serviced, secure housing on the farm.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. What is the most critical part of citrus farming?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          It starts the day you plant that citrus tree. You have to do a good job. If the wind blows from one direction and the tree starts growing skew, you have to come to its rescue. It\u2019s just like bringing up a child. Nurture it, give it what it needs, keep it free from pests and spray it regularly.<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. How do you ensure that Marblehall grows top-quality export fruit?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Implementing globally-prescribed pest and disease prevention spray programmes, as scheduled and on time, is a fundamental step in the guaranteed and consistent production of export-quality citrus. If your spray programmes aren\u2019t executed 100%, don\u2019t think you\u2019ll be able to export. This is also how we counter black spot which is a regular phenomenon in this part of Limpopo.<\/p>\n

              \n
            1. How does SAFE ensure that Marblehall remains modernised and keeps up with the latest farming\u00a0<\/strong>technology?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              I enjoy working with SAFE mostly because of the support in terms of acquiring new equipment, and improving infrastructure and systems on the farm. When you ask, they\u2019re there for you and they make a plan. We\u2019\"Marblehallve been collaborating on quite a few developments, such as a new irrigation system we recently implemented. Marblehall is not looking back. With management like SAFE, our farm can only move ahead.<\/p>\n

                \n
              1. What ambitions do you have for Marblehall?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                My dream for Marblehall is to expand. While our core business remains citrus, we plan to start planting 180 hectares of cash crops – such as watermelons and white beans \u2013 later this year. These are mostly harvested at a different time of the year than citrus. The diversification will enable us to capitalise on the farm\u2019s infrastructure, land and labour, while putting Marblehall\u2019s irrigation pivots to good use.<\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. What is most fulfilling about your job?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  We champion external and internal training opportunities for our farmworkers on a regular basis and you\u2019ll be surprised to see how people shine when you\u2019re willing to walk a road with them. Many people don\u2019t have work, and when you can physically see that a man is hungry, then it\u2019s a good feeling to be able to give that person work. After a few months you see how their whole life has changed and how they blossom. This we can only do if we expand. We need to grow. We have to move forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  A hands-on farm manager who believes a farmer\u2019s footprints should still be found on the land, Frans Vorsatz follows an open-door policy when it comes to his farmworkers. For the last five years he has been managing SAFE\u2019s Marblehall farm, situated near the Limpopo town with the twin name. Marblehall is the Cape Town-based citrus and table grape producer-exporter\u2019s largest farm by far and the latest addition to its group of farms in South Africa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/safe.co.za\/SAFENews\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/safe.co.za\/SAFENews\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/safe.co.za\/SAFENews\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/safe.co.za\/SAFENews\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/safe.co.za\/SAFENews\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=405"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/safe.co.za\/SAFENews\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":443,"href":"https:\/\/safe.co.za\/SAFENews\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405\/revisions\/443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/safe.co.za\/SAFENews\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/safe.co.za\/SAFENews\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/safe.co.za\/SAFENews\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}