Page 20 - SA Fruit Journal VOLUME 14

Nuwe aanstellings by HORTGROCARMEN KLEINHANSHORTGRO Paarl het onlangs vir Carmen Kleinhans as Databasis Operateur aange- stel. As gebore Ceresiet was die plaaslewe maar altyd in haar bloed. Sy is reeds vanaf 2005 werksaam in die Landbou-omgewing. Carmen is ervare as dit by ‘n databasis kom en beskik oor meer as nege jaar ervaring in soortgelyke omgewings. As enkel ma van twee pragtige dogters probeer sy om soveel moontlik kennis op te doen om haar omge- wing en visie te verbreed. Carmen geniet die buitelewe en sy is baie lief vir diere. Rugby is natuurlik een van haar swakpunte en volgens wat sy sê, klink dit of sy altyd beter weet as die skeidsregter. Een van haar doelwitte vir 2015 is dat sy wil graag gaan reksprong.Carmen sien HORTGRO as die plek waar sy baie ondervinding en ervaring gaan opdoen.SIMPHIWE TSHONISimphiwe Tshoni, a final year Masters stu- dent from Stellenbosch University, Agricul- tural Economics recently joined HORTGRO as an Agricultural Economist. His research topic is: Analysis of smallholders’ farm di- versity and risk attitudes in the Stellenbosch Local Municipality, Western Cape Province. This study can be broadly classified as a typo- logy kind of study meant for profiling of dif- ferent types of farming systems taking place in the Western Cape. Simphiwe was born and grew up in the Eastern Cape and came to Stellenbosch University in 2011 to do his Honours degree in Agricultural Economics. Simphiwe is a young, passionate person and a hard worker. “I believe that everyone is des- tined for great things in life, but hard work, focus and optimism are the key inputs”.NINA GOOSENHORTGRO in Paarl recently appointed SU MComm Agriculture Economics graduate, Nina Goosen, as Agriculture Economist. Her thesis topic was: “Wellington as a developing South African wine tourism destination”. Her passion for research and writing makes her a good fit for her new position at HORTGRO and Nina feels that she has much to offer towards her new line of work. “I may be new to the de- ciduous fruit industry, but I am always open to new ideas and I welcome all challenges with open arms,” she said. Born and bred in Strand, Nina enjoys an active and outdoor lifestyle i.e. going to the beach, jogging and spending time with friends and family around a braai. She also enjoys watching rugby and cricket (every now and again). Having a good balance in life is one thing that she feels is very important.Preliminary findings and conclusions were presented at the closing meeting, with the EU FVO Audit team highlighting they were impressed by the collective industry/private controls and the collaborative efforts made by all parties to consolidate efforts and work together towards managing/maintaining critical market access to key markets.The draft audit report confirmed, regular pre- export controls take place, including sampling for pesticide residues, which are performed by competent and knowledgeable inspectors. In addition to these official controls, compre- hensive own controls conducted by exporting FoodBusinessOperators(FBOs),growers and pack houses, further complemented bythe proactive approach undertaken by the in- dustry, are all factors providing a high level of confidence that exports to the EU, will meet EU pesticide residue standards. The report makes recommendations to the competent authority, aimed at rectifying identified short- comingsandenhancingtheimplementation of control measures.INDUSTRY NEWS 17 FEB | MARCH 2015