TOP OF THE CLASS
The Top of the Class (TOC) training programme is an initiative of the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum (FPEF) to drive sustainable transformation within the South African fruit export sector. This training programme provides a unique opportunity for previously disadvantaged individuals to be exposed to the entire fresh fruit value chain – from harvest to home.
The TOC started six years ago and has run in five of eight fruit producing provinces to date. In essence, this programme strives to create a new generation of entrepreneurs and skilled workers at grass roots level in the industry.
In 2009 the TOC took the long road to the red sands of the Northern Cape where 11 students successfully completed the course. The top student, Marius Witbooi, was awarded an all expenses paid experience of Fruit Logistica in Berlin. The FPEF believes that international exposure is of paramount importance to enriching students’ knowledge, self-development and motivation.
EMERGING FARMERS
In its quest to assist emerging producers to export their product successfully overseas, the FPEF has added a new course to its existing Top of the Class Portfolio which includes:
- Value chain training
- Business management training
- Commercial exporters as mentors
Possibly the most important innovation in this course, is the incorporation of commercial exporters as mentors to these emerging farmers. Dole South Africa, the Vintage Group and Riverside Enterprises have all signed Memoranda of Understanding with the FPEF, signalling their commitment to impart their knowledge and provide the necessary resources to uplift these farmers.
Funds secured from the Finnish Embassy were used to drive three pilot programmes with groups of emerging farmers in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Limpopo Provinces.
Each group participated in a two-day pre-harvest workshop and a one-day post-harvest workshop that took place at the end of 2009.
TRADE CHAIN MANUALS – handbooks offering a bird’s eye view on industry processes for the fruit export industry.
Two additional manuals were completed in 2009. These are advanced trade chain manuals by fruit kind for the citrus and pome fruit industries.
These informative manuals are used extensively in the FPEF training initiatives and are further intended as a reference for middle and senior management within fruit export companies.
2010 – THE ROAD AHEAD
Plans for 2010 include a TOC course in conjunction with TESCO for women farm workers in the stone fruit sector in the Western Cape and new training initiatives with emerging farmer groups in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Eastern Cape and the Western Cape.
A busy year lies ahead thanks to generous funding from our international and local donors - Ford Foundation, Embassy of Finland, Canadian Embassy, TESCO and the Department of Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).
