Fueling Growth: Free State Invests R10 Million in Apple Industry
The Free State government is channeling R10 million into Stead Fruit Growers, in partnership with Remmoho Investment in Agriculture (RIA), to enhance apple production in Bethlehem. Spearheaded by MEC Saki Mokoena, the initiative aims to drive economic expansion, generate employment opportunities, and position the province as a key investment hub.
MEC Saki Mokoena emphasized that the investment will facilitate project expansion, reinforcing the province’s attractiveness for potential investors with a focus on agriculture.
During the recent apple harvest event in Bethlehem, Mokoena and MEC for Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (Destea), Thabo Meeko, underscored the significance of the investment in advancing the Thabo Mofutsanyana apple hub and bolstering the deciduous fruit industry in the Free State.
Mokoena outlined that approximately 60% of the apples produced will be earmarked for export, with the remainder allocated for local distribution and apple juice processing, each comprising 20% of the total output.
The project, according to Mokoena, is poised to yield up to 180,000 tons of apples annually, injecting a vital economic stimulus into the region and fostering job creation, particularly for black farmers entering the commercial apple sector.
Highlighting the pivotal role of agriculture in the province’s economic trajectory, Meeko emphasized the centrality of the sector in driving job creation and reshaping the provincial economy for sustained growth and development.
