GLOBAL technology leader, Verder Group, is marking its commitment to environmental and social responsibility and has chosen the multi-award winning Mardouw Olive Estate to plant, for each of its employees around the world, a massive 2 000 olive trees at the estate.
A ceremony to mark the occasion held recently at the Mardouw Olive Estate in Swellendam was attended by Langeberg Municipality executive mayor, Schalk van Eeden, Richard Hattersley, MD of Verder Scientific SA, Nina Verder representing the Verder family, and Mardouw executive chairman, Gerbrand Nijman.
In describing how this gesture helps to enable progress, Richard Hattersley said: “This signifies our commitment to sustainability and our belief in the power of collective action for the greater good. In partnership with Mardouw Olive Estate, one of South Africa’s premier producers of quality extra virgin olive oil, this project symbolises our dedication to reducing our ecological footprint. We have planted more than 2000 trees at Mardouw because we are always expanding, and we will soon have over 2000 employees.”
Mardouw’s Gerbrand Nijman says the trees will contribute to a better environment: “We will take pride in taking good care of these trees – which will of course contribute to making more of our award-winning extra virgin olive oil. As South Africa’s most decorated olive oil brand, our high standards of quality have been – like Verder Group’s – recognised around the world as evidenced by our platinum and gold awards not only in South Africa but also in Europe, USA, and South America. It will be our honour to nurture these trees.”
SA Olive Industry Association CEO, Wendy Petersen, is delighted by the news and says: “The planting of new olive trees is a fantastic initiative with numerous long-term benefits for our industry. There is a worldwide demand for excellent olive oils and table olives, and meeting this demand through increased production can be highly lucrative. Beyond the economic benefits, planting olive trees is crucial for sustainability and environmental stewardship. This initiative has significant social implications, particularly in terms of job creation. The process of planting, cultivating and harvesting olives provides numerous employment opportunities. This is a wonderful turnkey solution offering a comprehensive approach to long-term sustainability.”
