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PRESS
RELEASE
1 November 2006 |
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Ferax Seeds has
served commercial vegetable growers countrywide since
1996, founded as a vegetable seed distribution company
with the backing of Nickerson-Zwaan
of Holland. During the late 1990’s Ferax also began
distributing a range of crops for the French seed company
Vilmorin,
who are market leaders in carrot breeding. These companies
are owned by the Limagrain Group, which has become the
third largest seed group in the world. Among other vegetable
seed breeding companies in the group are Clause Tezier
(also of France), Hazera in Israel, and Harris
Moran Seed Company in the USA
Also in 1998, Western
Seed visited Ferax
to introduce their range of tomato hybrids. The first
trials of various tomato varieties followed soon afterwards.
Western Seed (also based in Holland) have appointed
Ferax Seeds as their exclusive distributor in Southern
Africa.
In a new development, the managing director of Ferax
Seeds, Mr James Stephen, announced that Harris
Moran varieties will be distributed by
Ferax Seeds from 1st July, 2006. Based in Modesto, California,
Harris Moran has long been active in the South African
vegetable seed market, especially in beans, squash and
sweetcorn. The existing processing business will continue
to be managed by Mr Andre Esterhuyse, who has extensive
experience in the processing industry. The regional manager
for Harris Moran in SA, Dr Piet Grobler, who is well known
to vegetable producers throughout the country, will act
as a technical adviser to Ferax.
Founded in 1996 Ferax Seeds
has become associated in the Southern African market with
greenhouse cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, carrots, cabbage,
lettuce and a range of other crops including herbs. Recent
areas of interest are beans, squash, pumpkins, sweetcorn and
onions. The aim is to make a larger range of new varieties
from the Limagrain Group available to South African commercial
producers.
Our focus as a distribution company is on quality of service
plus excellent technical support to back up well adapted
varieties for a very competitive market. Our Head Office
is situated at the new permanent trial farm near Lanseria,
Gauteng, where seeds are dispatched to all parts of the
country. In addition there are branches in Cape Town and
KwaZulu-Natal. Currently 13 members of staff are employed
in sales and operational duties, with representation in
the main vegetable production areas. All field staff have
practical experience in vegetable farming, and it is our
policy to employ only very competent personnel.
We are proud of the expertise built up over
the past years, which combined with efficient service, means
we will concentrate on what we do best – looking after
the interests of the nation’s vegetable growers.
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