Uitgawe 46

GRAPEVINEGRAPEVINEGRAPEVINE Volume 46, December 2015

May you all have a blessed festive season and a prosper New Year!

We always like to say “being at the right place at the right

time”. On Friday evening, 13th November, I was at the right

place at the right time! I was very privileged to attend the an-

nual award ceremony hosted by the Agricultural Writers Asso-

ciation of South Africa to announce the Farmer of the Year,

the Agriculturist of the Year and the New Entrant to Commer-

cial Farming of the Year. The ceremony was hosted at the

scenic Spier Hotel Conference Centre outside Stellenbosch in

the Western Cape Province of South Africa.

Being recognised as the Northern Cape Farmer of the Year 2015 at the beginning of

October (refer to the November 2015 Grapevine), Piet Karsten Snr was nominated for

national honours together with 5 other regional winners (Free State, Kwazulu-Natal,

Mpumulanga, North West and the Western Cape). The Karsten team attending the

evening did not leave the ceremony disappointed … Piet Karsten was recognised as

South Africa‟s Farmer of the Year for 2015! In accepting the award from Agricultural

Writers Association, Piet focussed on the challenges surrounding agriculture and the

responsibilities on the shoulders of all farmers to ensure that sustainable solutions are

found. The roles played in the success of the Karsten Group by Piet‟s family and all

employees in the Group were also highlighted by Piet.

On behalf of all the staff and man-

agement at Karsten UK and New

Vision Fruit B.V., I would like to con-

gratulate Piet on his achievements

… it will be tough to follow and

keep up to the examples he has

set for us!

Regards,

Herman Engelbrecht

Farmer of the Year 2015Farmer of the Year 2015Farmer of the Year 2015 Baie Geluk Baie Geluk Baie Geluk

Oom Piet, Oom Piet, Oom Piet,

dis ’n groot dis ’n groot dis ’n groot voorreg om deel voorreg om deel voorreg om deel

te wees van die te wees van die te wees van die

Karsten Groep.Karsten Groep.Karsten Groep.

Congratulations Congratulations Congratulations

Piet, Piet, Piet, it is a huge it is a huge it is a huge

privilege to be privilege to be privilege to be

part of the part of the part of the

Karsten Group.Karsten Group.Karsten Group.

Personeel nuus / personnel news

Appointments

Horizon Fruits Anschen Cloete has been appointed as Management Ac-countant from 16 November 2015 at Horizon Fruits. Anschen previously worked at Fruit ways Marketing. We want to welcome Anschen and trust that she will enjoy a pleasant working relationship with the Karsten Group.

Resignations Karsten Boerdery - Blouputs Isaac Mashomeng, Production Assistant has terminated his contract with his last working day 23 October 2015. Isaac was from 5 May 2003 in our service. We would like to thank Isaac for his contributions and services rendered and wish him success in his new career. Louis Janse van Rensburg. Group Human Resource Manager

Page 2 Volume 46, December 2015

Aanstellings

Horizon Fruits Anschen Cloete is met ingang 16 November 2015 as Bestuursrekenmeester te Horizon Fruits aangestel. Anschen het voorheen by Fruit ways Marketing gewerk. Ons wil vir Anschen verwelkom en vertrou dat sy ‘n aangename en leersame werksverhouding by die Karsten Groep sal geniet.

Bedankings Karsten Boerdery - Blouputs Isaac Mashomeng, Produksie Assistent te Blouputs, het sy dienste beëindig met sy laaste dag van diens 23 Ok-tober 2015. Isaac was sedert 8 Mei 2003 in ons diens. Ons wil vir Isaac bedank vir sy bydraes en dienste gelewer en voorspoed toewens met sy loopbaan. Louis Janse van Rensburg. Groep Menslike Hulpbron Bestuurder

Congratulations to...

Gert en Jorina Alberts on the birth of their second son, Stiaan (Kleingeld die 2de)

Stiaan was 3.15kg and

52cm at birth!

Antony & Galina Butler got married on the 23rd of Octo-

ber in Pattaya , Thailand at the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel.

Against the backdrop of a beautiful sunset proceedings

started and according to the South Africans this was the

shortest ceremony they have ever experienced, nonethe-

less all worthwhile as family and friends enjoyed a very

special day together with the couple. Congratulations to

Antony & Galina, we wish them all the best as they em-

bark on this wonderful union.

Butler Family….

Christian celebrated his 1st

birthday, at Roepersfontein,

this weekend. We wish your

family all the happiness for

years to come!

Volume 46, December 2015 Uitgawe 46, Desember 2015

Northern-Cape

Opleiding

KLEIN PELLA

‟n Gastehuis- en Kan-

toorskoonmakerkursus,

is aangebied deur Orffer

en Van Der Merwe, op

11 en 12 November, in

Upington. Drie werknemers, van

Roepersfontein, het die

opleiding bygewoon: Elgene Grasvoet, Leoca-

dia Blom en Petronella

Mintoor. Agter staan die twee

opleiers, Annelize v/d

Westhuizen en Narika

Lategan

Gerhard Veldsman organized four experiential learning activities for employees at Pella pack house. After challenging activities he facilitated debriefing on: “What happened? (What did the peo-ple see, hear and experience?) What did the group learn and how will it be applied in the work place? The group learned to trust each other, to show respect, to com-municate, to plan, to function as a team, to set goals and to be themselves. The team were highly motivated afterwards.

Keep the water

Squeezing in!

We did it!

Teambuilding at Pella Natrossie Creche

thanks Waitrose for

the contribution to

the backpacks for

our crèche children.

One can only look at

the faces of these

children to see their

appreciation.

Natrossie greetings

KROMHOUT

Met die lekker warm weer wat ons hierdie somer al gehad het,

het die druiwe baie vinnig gegroei. Ons wil dankie sê vir die

ander plase wat ons kom uithelp het met die voorbereiding.

Soos die slagspreuk sê: Vele hande maak ligte werk.

Ons is so geseën met mooi vrugte hierdie jaar. Die korrels se

groottes is reg, die Flame het mooi gekleur en die pakstoor

funksioneer soos „n goed ge-oliede masjien.

Van die hele Raap en Skraap af wens ons vir almal ‘n

suksesvolle pakseisoen toe. Mag alle oesskattings oortref word hierdie jaar!

Congratulations to Petrus and Rosaline Basson

who got married on the 14th November 2015.

Ons wens julle ‘n lang gelukkige

lewe saam toe.

RAAP & SKRAAPRAAP & SKRAAPRAAP & SKRAAP

Volume 46, December Uitgawe 46, Desember 2015

Karsten UK It is now 9 months since

we moved to the consoli-

dation site at Turners. No

time for maternity leave

…….. We have been

through a very challenging

and busy Spanish season.

Currently we supply Bra-

zilian Sweet Globe and

Thompson finished with

good quality. Sweet Sap-

phire arrivals was slightly

disappointing with a lot of

shrivel, shatter. Good

eating quality and taste

but no shelf life.

Peruvian supply started

with two new suppliers.

Sugraone and Thompson

quality was exceptional

good with packouts of

average 99.5%. Crimson is

of good quality with pack-

outs of 99.7%. Sweet Cel-

ebration came in with

some bruising and shatter.

No seed trace found so

far. Flame came in with

some small quality prob-

lems with average pack

outs of 98% which is still

very good. Autumn Royal

quality also very good. All

supplied in punnets

packed at source.

Next week we expect the

first SA grapes from

Karsten and Namibia. We

trust and hope for a good

season. All the best to all

the farms and everyone

involved. We will install

the third Marco line at

Turners on 30 November

to increase our capacity

for the future.

Regards

Altus

December 2015 has come quickly … for some too soon; for others it could not have been soon enough. For Karsten UK, 2015 has been another year to remember – we now have had 10 memorable years. Looking back and reflecting on 2015 (… and the last 10 years) we can describe it in so many ways – pride, relief, concern … all of us can probably pick a different emotion. Looking back at 2015, the follow-ing stands out for me as markers along the way to the next 10 years of our existence: In February 2015 Altus and his team moved into Turners to start the next phase of our supply to Tesco as

a service provider. The decision to split our Spalding based business in two was a difficult one to take. With the challenges experienced during the first few months, many a night was spend twisting and turning, wondering whether we have taken the right decision. Meeting with the Turn-ers management team this afternoon, made me realise just how far we have come since the “dark” days of June. Success can only be achieved through hard work, commitment to the route taken and staff willing to walk the extra mile. To the team at Soham and those from Spalding that have pro-vided much needed support over the last few months – a BIG thank you!! We still have much to do; but at least we know now what can be achieved if we roll up the sleeves, work hard and stay fo-cused.

Our Finance team has been challenged by the departure of two senior managers from the team, causing

upset and uncertainty. The benefit of being part of a bigger group, has been on display over the last few months with the presence of Belia Karsten, Madelé van Heerden, Pompies Stadler and Ignatius Basson at the Bungalow. Another BIG thank you to Belia, Madelé, Pompies and Ignatius for spend-ing time with us, leaving friends, family, homes, etc. behind in South Africa to assist the Finance team in bringing back stability to the team. To the Finance team – a BIG thank you for all the effort during such a difficult time; a BIG thank you for sticking with us whilst we worked out the best way to move forward. We are not out of the woods yet; but we can see the sunlight ahead of us!!

And the big one – we celebrated 10 years of joy, success, pain, sweat, etc. over the August bank holiday

week end. On Saturday evening, 29 August, Senior Management hosted members of the Karsten family, suppliers from around the world, local service providers and many more at the St Ives (Hunts) Golf club as a thank you for their contribution to the success of Karsten UK. On Monday, 31 August, staff members in fancy dress enjoyed a magical afternoon at the Woodlands Hotel in Spal-ding following Alice around her Wonderland. The BIG thank you this time round goes to Emma and Charleen that gave up most of their summer to make sure these events will be remembered for many years to come.

Every single member of our staff would have had experiences during 2015 that will remain with them

forever – there are those that have lost loved ones, there are those that welcomed new babies to their families, there are those that have tied the knot, etc. We have shared your pain, your sadness, your joy, your pride. Thank you for being part of our team and thank you for your contribution to make our lives a more joyful one and our company a more successful one.

My last word of thanks and congratulations goes to our owners – the Karsten family. Congratulations to Piet Karsten Snr who was recognised as the South African Farmer of the Year (2015) recently. I cannot think of anybody more worthy. Thanks to Piet, Pieter, Belia, Jannetje and Elizca for the way that you involve yourselves in the lives of people, for the way you allow staff to be the best they can be and providing the opportunity for all staff to better themselves and the lives of their loved ones. May you all experience love and peace over this Festive Season. If you are lucky to have your family and friends close by, cherish it with all your heart.

Regards, Herman Engelbrecht

December ... the start of another

season, the end of another year

Volume 46, December

Uitgawe 46, Desember2015

WESTERN-CAPE

The workers on Lourensford would like to thank Karsten

for the bibles they received.

Dit was uitstappie tyd

vir Vergelegen se

kinders. Vroeër die

jaar het hul „n kompe-

tisie gewen waar hul dru-

iwetrosse moes maak met

afvalmateriaal en was die prys „n uitstappie. Die

kleuters was na „n pretpark geneem en het hul

gate uit geniet met die bootjies, klimrame, spring-

kastele, fietsbane, pophuise ens. Baie dankie vir

Henry vir die super lekker prys!

The social committee

are currently busy

preparing for all the

Christmas projects,

which we are very

excited about. They

are as follow: Christ-

mas party for our

children, Santa Paws

(raising donations for

our community’s ani-

mals) and also the

yearly

Hampers for

our workers.

Vergelegen

Die ouer kinders is bederf met „n uitstappie

na die Two Oceans Aquarium by die Water-

front. Daar het hulle meer geleer van die

seelewe wat tussen die rotse en ook die im-

pak van rommel op die samelewing. Hierdie

was „n groot dag met soveel eerstes vir

meeste van die kinders. Na die les het hul „n

toer deur die akwarium geneem. Dit was „n

voorreg vir my om

deel te kon wees van

hierdie ervarings van

d i e k i n d e r s .

(Amanda du Plessis)

Volume 46, December 2015

Page 6

WESKAAP

Ons was hierdie jaar weer

deel van Ste inthal

Kinderhuis, in Tulbagh, se

jaarlikse kerspartytjie. Die

kinders is bederf met „n

opvoering met „n spesiale

storieles, lekker swem,

gesigverf ens. Die hoofor-

ganiseerders doen jaarliks

die „Santas shoe box‟ pro-

jek vir die kinderhuis.

The ‘Pomers’ would like to say thank you for the Bibles they received. Wat ‘n voorreg

om Die Woord in jou eie taal te kan lees!

Steinthal Kinderhuis hou Kerspartytjie

Baie geluk aan Sofie Faro wat die af-

gelope week haar Gesondheidswerker

sertifikaat ontvang het by hul gala

Hierdie is Moutonshoek se sokker manne!!! Hulle het

geskiedenis gemaak om die eerste span te wees va-

nuit die landbou om deel te neem aan die jaarlikse

Visfabrieke sporttoernooi in Velddrif. Hierdie toernooi

word al vanaf 1987 gehou en was „n breinkind van Dr

Danie Cruvan en Ian Kirkpatrick. Van die spelers wat

van die geledere van die toernooi gekom het was

Ricky January, Ashwin Willemse, Ryno Benjamin en

Dale Santon. Alhoewel dit by rugby begin het word

daar sokker en netbal ook gespeel. Spanne van so

ver as St Helena Baai, Elands Baai, Port Nolloth en

Langebaan – en nou natuurlik Piketberg ook!

Hul het baie ondervinding opgedoen gedurende die

toernooi en sal definitief volgende jaar weer

deelneem. Mooi gedoen manne!

Moutonshoek HOOGLAND

Our Cherry Season started in

October 2015 this year.

Everything went well thus far and

are we sure that this will be one

of our better Seasons up to now,

if not the best. Our people are

positive and everyone‟s

contribution is much appreciated.

Thumbs up for all you

Hoogland people!!

Volume 46, December 2015

Dr Deon Scheun gave teachers an overview

regarding the educational situation in South Afri-

ca. He inspired them to be carriers of light since

the challenges are big. Mr September, Luzanne

Pool, Jacobus Mienies and Rina Marx also ad-

dressed the group after attending the Kobus

Neethling conference. They shared creative

ideas that can be used in the classroom. Applica-

tion in the classroom will enhance the experi-

ence: “It is fun to learn!”

Inspiring speakers

Dr Deon Scheun addressing teachers.

Inspiration day for Karsten/Albert Heijn teachers

Learners enjoy Rina Marx

and Imagine (the puppet)

The Big Boet computer programme is being facilitated to learners by Karsten/Albert

Heijn Computer Champs in three schools in the Northern Cape. Big Boet exercises de-

velop the following skills:

Maths

Reading with comprehension

Memory

Creative thinking

Through the use of the Big Boet program learners are

able to improve language (e.g. through focusing on

sound combinations, plurals and improvement of

memory) and maths (shapes and colours, counting

and calculations).

A total number of 1 134 learners attended Big Boet classes in the Northern Cape during

2015 at Blaauwsekop, Oranje Suid and Pella.

Developing skills

Page 8

Volume 46, December 2015

At Pella Intermediate and Oranje Suid Primary School Karsten/Albert Heijn celebrated the success of 30 adult learners that completed computer classes and passed. They received training in Word and Excel. Read the following testimonies to understand what these clas-ses meant to the students. Anna Basson: “There were days when I could not wait for the computer class to start! It gave meaning to my life.” Charisa Simboya: “I had to leave college, because I struggled a lot with the computer. The classes at Pella were worth it! I am now computer literate.” Charlynne Kortom: “I learned more than I expected.” Felicia Rooi: “I cell Tupperware. Excel helps me with my business - I do not have to use the calculator. Andus is a wonderful person and had a lot of patience with me, because I never worked on a computer before.” Jennifer April: “I thought that I would never make it, but Andus use to say: “It is not that bad!” I want to thank him for his patience. With his help I reached 89%!” Aloysia Basson: “The computer classes inspired me to reach for my dream.” Zanelle Diergaardt: “I can do my own budget now - without asking somebody for help.” Zhekia Raman: “I am not so afraid of a computer anymore. I would recommend this comput-er classes.” Magrieta Maduna: “There were days that we just wanted to drop out, but Edwina believed in us and motivated us to complete the course. Thank you very much!”

CELEBRATION OF SUCCECELEBRATION OF SUCCECELEBRATION OF SUCCESSSSSS

Learners from Kromhout

and Mosplaas

Edwina Theron and

Ontiretse Batlopeng overcame language

barriers

Adult learners at Oranje

Suid

Andus Assegaai and his learn-

ers at Pella.

Iemand sal luister

Het julle geweet daar is so baie wonderlike mense

wat ons kan help en vir ons omgee? Juffrou Judy

en juffrou Leonie het ons geleer (by Natrossie

Kleuterskool op Kromhout) dat daar ALTYD ie-

mand is met wie ons kan praat. By die huis is ons

familie, by die crèche is juffrou en die tannies wat

daar werk. Die dokters, verpleegters, polisie-

manne, brandweer en die maatskaplike werkers is

almal mense wat ons help.

WOW! Die hoogtepunt was toe ons kon leer hoe om ons eie

verpleegterhoedjies te maak. Selfs "dokter Ciara" het ook haar eie

hoedjie gemaak! O ja! Ons ken ook nou die noodnommer van die

polisie.....10111...