Agrimark Tulbagh: Growing Together with the Community

"The way we treat our people – including the customers who come in and the staff who work here – is, for me, the foundation of a healthy work environment. Without qualities like honesty, reliability, and fair conduct, we cannot function. And, it must be done with the right attitude. If you walk with a smile on your face, it becomes even easier," he describes his approach.

Brian, originally from Worcester, has progressed from a general worker to management within 13 years, and for the past two and a half years, he has been the branch manager of Agrimark Tulbagh.

He explains that the area's major producers are in the stone and pome fruit industry, with products like apples, pears, nectarines, and plums making up the vast majority of production. The store also supports numerous wine cellars and eight pack stores that package various fruits. To meet the needs of all these fruit producers, Agrimark Tulbagh maintains a wide variety of packaging materials.

"We are currently preparing our stock for the upcoming packing season to ensure that we are ready to serve the producers as soon as the season begins. At the moment, only small amounts of material are going out, but within the next three weeks, things will change quickly," says Willandré Fortuin, the senior trade clerk. She is in charge of the packaging material and is also Brian's right hand when he is not at the store.

"The season is eagerly awaited, and we are ensuring that our stock levels are sufficient. To house and distribute all the packaging material, a new store was built in 2022. The inner packaging material is kept in the store next to the store, while the cartons and other packing items are kept in our other two stores." She adds, "The season can come; we are ready for it."

Agrimark Tulbagh's four delivery vehicles, two 8-ton freight trucks, and two smaller trucks, are practically busy with deliveries throughout the day during the packing season, and sometimes they even work after hours to ensure that producers receive their orders on time.

In addition to stone and pome fruits such as plums, peaches, nectarines, apples, and pears, the Tulbagh area is also known for crops like canola and other grain varieties, and on a smaller scale, fruit processing facilities and livestock farming.

"We attend to the needs of livestock farmers, especially cattle farmers, and also supply them with livestock feed. For bulk orders, we deliver directly to their farms. This also applies to fertilisers and fuel. Along with livestock feed, such as molasses meal, salt lick, and lick blocks, there are, of course, also veterinary medicines and sulfur for producers drying fruit. We supply special feed for an ostrich farm where they raise ostrich chicks before they are moved to Oudtshoorn. When we hear about producers entering a different market, we see it as an opportunity to expand our service and ensure that we can meet their needs," says Steyn van Niekerk, the agricultural marketer.

Agrimark Tulbagh is also involved in the local agricultural association and various annual events that market the region, such as the Tulbagh show, a major showcase for the horse breeders in the area, and the popular Tulbagh Christmas in Winter project that promotes tourism.

"Customers appreciate the variety of products in our retail department, and we are constantly expanding it to meet their needs. The horticultural department offers everything for those who like to roll up their sleeves. Popular brands like the Jonsson range and Hi-Tec safety shoes are available in our clothing department. We also stock work clothes such as safety wear, overalls, shoes, and gloves. We sell a lot of picking bags, harvest scissors, and picking bags essential for the fruit industry," Brian further explains.

Agrimark Tulbagh assists fruit producers with the installation of protective nets that are stretched over the orchards. All materials for this, including the nets, anchor and support poles, specialised anchor wires, and other materials, are supplied by them. It is not always supplied directly to the producer, but the entire purchase and financing process is handled by the store, and materials are delivered directly to the farms. According to Steyn, nets are becoming increasingly popular, and producers see it as a necessity to protect their harvests and help secure their income.

The store's building department is another focal point, and all building materials – from sand, stones, and cement to door and window frames, hot water cylinders, wooden beams, and more – are stored in the large warehouse where the building department is located. Outside the store next to the shop, there is also a variety of poles, wire for fencing, plastic water tanks of various sizes, and pipes for various uses.

The fuel station provides fuel, but Agrimark Tulbagh has a tanker with a capacity of 1,000 litres of diesel that is taken to producers for refills. During load-shedding phases, the gas depot for household gas is particularly useful for refills.

Because the store provides products that the town's residents need, product ranges are constantly adjusted and expanded as the need arises. Hand and power tools, building materials, paint from all major brands, dog food, pet products, and birdseed are some of the products that are especially popular.

"We can't always get everything right, but we keep trying. Just look at the Springboks – they don't always get everything right, but then they win anyway," Brian concludes.