Ray Smuts
TESCO, the leading British supermarket group, has awarded its Nature's Choice accreditation to a number of Capespan table grape suppliers in the Orange River region.
This welcome announcement last month came as the Orange River table grape season was fast moving to its peak with close to ten million cartons of grapes being shipped to customers around the world.
Colin Smith, Tesco main board director responsible for foods said: We are delighted that these growers have achieved our Nature's Choice accreditation. It is entirely due to the fact that Capespan already has one of the best quality and food safety management systems in the world and we look forward to increasing our business with them in the years ahead.
The growers who have achieved the distinction are Peu Bezuidenhout of Naftali Estate, Brennie Wiehahn of Rodelande Boerdery, RK Oosthuizen and Sons for their four farms and the Karsten Group for seven of its farms.
The purpose of the accreditation programmes is to ensure consumers' faith in fresh products that hold no health risks and to verify that producers apply responsible practices with regard to sustainable production, the environment and the treatment of employees.
Previously, Tesco awarded its Nature's Choice accreditation to two pome fruit growers, Monteith Trust and Kromvlei Estates in the Elgin/Grabouw region, both of which received guidance from the Capespan Group's environmental management team.
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