Pit stop
ONE CRISP MORNING LAST AUTUMN, Boschendal’s GM of agriculture, Jacques du Toit, could be spotted hobbling between two rows of plum trees. His knee, fresh from surgery, was taking strain as his farmer’s shoes sank into the soft, mulch-covered soil. Walking alongside him was Jannie Marais, South Africa’s representative for Woolies’ exclusive plum supplier The Custom Plum Company – a joint venture between UK-based produce supplier Mack, and local fruit-growing company, Fruits Unlimited.
Each tree offered a merciful pit stop as the two paused to inspect branch upon branch of plump, dewy fruit. These aren’t the kind of plums we grew up with, that’s for sure. They’re larger, for one, but also much sweeter; their flesh faintly redolent of spring blossoms. Their evocative name – Flavour Fall – is a nod to their autumnal harvest time.
As any fruit farmer will tell you, plums require a particular level of precision (and a fair amount of
