Farming for the Future

WOOLWORTHS is proud to have a range of indigenous plants, including fynbos and fruit trees, as part of its horticulture range. But rather than being produced by a large commercial supplier, these plants are grown for us by a small Western Cape enterprise that literally started as a back yard business. 

In 2001, Jacky Goliath and Elton Jefthas turned Elton’s back yard in Kylemore, outside Stellenbosch, into a nursery. With their knowledge of local fynbos, they chose three different species to start, and called themselves De Fynne Nursery. 

As part of our enterprise development initiative, Woolworths supplied a loan to assist their fledgling operation, as well as ongoing technical and business support. Over the years, Woolworths has extended De Fynne’s range to include various species of fynbos, Spekboom, fruit trees, blueberries and lavender. De Fynne is also part of Woolworths’ pioneering Farming for the Future initiative. 

Today the nursery employs some 25 people and produces about 600 000 plants per year on just 1.5 rented hectares. In 2012 Jacky won first prize in the Plant Stand Exhibition organised by the Cape Green Forum in Stellenbosch and Jacky has been recognised and awarded both nationally and internationally as an entrepreneur in the commercial and agribusiness sector.