Mosplaas Citrus

Mosplaas Citrus is a new empowerment venture between the Karsten Group, the Industrial Development Corporation and a Workers’ Trust consisting of permanent workers of the Group. When completed, Mosplaas Sitrus will consist of 400 hectares of citrus fruit.

It was established through the purchasing of an existing citrus farm with 50 hectares of fruit which are already in production. Mosplaas Sitrus is situated next to another Karsten farm, Kromhout, which produces table grapes. It will therefore provide additional employment over a longer period because the production periods of table grapes and citrus fruit compliment each other.

Nearly 260 hectares of new orchards will have been planted by the end of 2010, focusing mostly on pigmented grapefruit, late mandarins and Valencia types. Pigmented grapefruit will eventually contribute 60% of the production, featuring varieties such as Star Ruby, Nel Ruby, Alpha, Flamingo, Ruby Red and Bennie. Grapefruit is harvested from the end of April until June.

The late Mandarins, including Clemengold and Mor 24, are in an experimental phase and should finally contribute 10% of the crop, with the rest being Valencia types. Valencias are harvested in July, while it is expected that the late mandarins will be ready for picking towards the end of June.

The quality of the grapefruit which is produced at Mosplaas is exceptional and it is anticipated that a major portion of the crop will be exported to the United States.

The projeck offers a major opportunity for empowerment of the employees of the Karsten Group. The workers’ trust representing the employees will finally own 25,9% of the business. It is part of the Karsten Group’s to empower its people through shareholding and by doing so, to establish long term successful argi businesses.