Background information on Eve Brand Farm
• Established in June 2004 as an empowerment company owned 50% by an Emerging Farmer Workers Trust and 50% by commercial interest;
• The first joint-venture in the Langkloof Valley - located on the western portion of the Eastern Cape;
• Situated on 1 171ha of land;
• Currently farms pomefruits on 194ha– persimmon (40ha), apple and pear (154ha)
• Is one of 3 persimmon farms in the province;
• Comprises of 240 share holders who have equal representation in the venture;
• Comprises of 96 permanent workers and 45 seasonal workers; and
• Registered at Fair Trade which is a body that empowers producers in developing countries and which promotes sustainability. Fair Trade strives for the payment of a fair price as well as social and environmental standards in areas related to the production of a wide variety of products, with a strong focus on exports.
New Honeybush development
• Eve Brand Farm is planning the establishment of a Honeybush component;
• Haneybush has presented the most viable farming alternative during the off- season of the pomefruits;
• Venture set to create 4 additional permanent jobs and 16 seasonal workers;
• Project has received support from the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs (DEDEA);
• Implementation is projected for June 2009 when the R1.2m funds from DEDEA have been transferred to Cacadu District Municipality;
• Plantation will take place on 20ha.
Unique selling points of the Honeybush project
• Eve Brand Farm’s Honeybush farming project will be the first big commercial planting of Honey Bush in the Eastern Cape.
• The project will make it the second Honeybush farm in the Eastern Cape, the first being the Klein Rivier Estate also in the Langkloof area which is currently cultivating Honeybush on 4ha;
• Most Honeybush in the Eastern Cape is harvested in the wilderness, thus resulting in high demand for the product;
• Honeybush is indigenous to the Langkloof area.
• The venture will help to promote and establish the Honeybush industry in the Eastern Cape.
• Honeybush from the Eve Brand Project will be supplied to Heights Tea Entrepreneurs (located in Joubertina) for processing and for exporting;
