Tru-Cape opens Heritage Orchard to public in Grabouw
Free guided tour offers rare look at historic apple and pear varieties that shaped South Africa’s fruit sector.
SOUTH AFRICA – Tru-Cape will open the gates of its Heritage Orchard at Oak Valley Estate in Grabouw on Saturday, February 28, giving members of the public a rare chance to see and taste apple and pear varieties that once formed the backbone of South Africa’s fruit trade.
Visitors will walk through the orchard from 10h00 to 12h00 under the guidance of Quality Assurance Manager Henk Griessel and new varietal experts Buks Nel and Jeanne Fourie.
The team will introduce guests to near-lost cultivars such as the Newton Apple, Northern Spy, Pomme de Neige and Cox Orange Pippin, along with local favourites like Witte Wijnappel, Badappel, Kroonappel and Koo.
Preserving fruit history
The Heritage Orchard serves as a living collection of rare cultivars that growers no longer plant on a commercial scale. Tru-Cape maintains the trees to protect their genetics and to keep their stories alive.
Nel said the orchard plays an important role in modern fruit breeding. “Understanding the past plays a vital role in shaping the future of fruit innovation,” he said. Nel has helped develop new varieties such as BigBucks Gala, also known as Flash Gala.
Tru-Cape has also worked with Hortgro to replant the historic Witte Wijnappel, the first apple recorded at the Cape. The partners planted trees at the original site in the Company’s Garden in Cape Town in 2019, as well as at Oak Valley Estate and Babylonstoren.
Learning from the past
During the tour, Griessel and Nel will draw on research from their books, Apples in the Early Days at the Cape, The Newcomers and People, Pears and the stories they share. They will explain where these varieties came from and how farmers brought them to the Cape.
Copies of the books will be on sale at the orchard, along with coffee. Organisers advise visitors to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring sun and weather protection. Guests should use the restrooms at the gate when entering Oak Valley Estate.
The event is free of charge. Tickets are available through Quicket, and visitors must present their booking confirmation at the gate for entry.
The orchard tour forms part of Tru-Cape’s wider effort to keep South Africa’s fruit heritage accessible to growers, researchers and the public.
Be the first to leave a comment