Three weeks into the citrus season, Jupiter South Africa is packing lemons for export and Navel oranges for the local market.
As the Jupiter Group moves through the month of April, it will begin to pack its Star Ruby Grapefruit much later than in previous years, as it has decided to minimise the aggressive process of de-greening (high temperature, humidity and ethylene gas).
In addition, Jupiter Group's farm in the Western Cape, Zonquasdrift, has started picking satsumas this week.
Renovating The 'Old Lady'
It will be the last time that fruit from Jupiter Group's farm in Limpopo, Maswiri, will be packed in the 40-year-old pack house, affectionately known as the 'old lady', as work begins to upgrade the facilities.
May will see the arrival of Jupiter Group's brand-new Greefa electronic sizer and MED pack line components, which the group will use to pack its Valencia oranges. Packing using the new lines will commence as early as June.
“By the end of the year, the entirety of the old pack house will be gone, and we will be in a better position to meet the demand of our markets' specifications,” commented Jupiter Group technical director Cristian Metzger.
“It will be great for the team to welcome CEO Mark and his wife Yvonne, a director, to Maswiri, to officially inaugurate the new packing line in June.”
Continual Improvement: A Core Value
To improve things further, the farm is about to take receipt of ten new John Deere tractors with fully air-conditioned cabs, for operator comfort and safety, and ten brand-new, much more efficient spray machines.
With continual improvement one of Jupiter’s core values, these improvements will serve to ensure that customers receive the very best from the group.
If you’d like to find out more about any of Jupiter Group's fresh produce, call the team on +44 (0)1952 822200 or email [email protected] or [email protected].
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