ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Episode 162 of the Lucentlands Podcast brings together Anton Rabe, outgoing CEO of HORTGRO, and Jacques du Preez, incoming CEO, for a conversation about HORTGRO’s leadership transition and the changing realities facing South Africa’s deciduous fruit industry.
Hosted by Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie, the conversation looks back at Anton’s decades in the industry and the changes that followed deregulation, as well as the growth and development of HORTGRO, transformation, research, market access and the organisation’s expanding responsibilities.
For Jacques du Preez, the transition into the CEO role is about continuity as much as change. He describes the approach as “evolution rather than revolution”, building on a stable foundation while ensuring HORTGRO continues to adapt to changing conditions.
Among the major priorities discussed are market access and logistics. Jacques reflects on the importance of retaining existing markets while continuing to diversify South Africa’s export opportunities, while both guests discuss the serious logistical pressures facing growers, particularly through the Cape Town Container Terminal.
The conversation also explores succession within HORTGRO, developing internal expertise, research capacity, transformation, industry funding, climate and production risks, and the importance of maintaining a strong collective industry structure for growers.
Key topics include:
• HORTGRO’s evolution following deregulation
• Anton Rabe’s reflections on his career and the development of the organisation
• Jacques du Preez’s move from market access into the CEO role
• Market access and export diversification
• Port and logistics challenges
• Transformation and grower support
• Building internal skills and succession within HORTGRO
• Research, technology and production efficiency
• Climate and production risks facing growers
• The future role of HORTGRO in a changing fruit industry
Anton may be stepping away from the day-to-day operational role, but the conversation makes clear that the knowledge and experience built over decades will continue to inform the industry. For Jacques, the task now is to build on that foundation while keeping HORTGRO ahead of changing local and global conditions.
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