Refrigeration – Located near Groblersdal in Limpopo, the region known as the Golden Mile is where some of the country’s best export-quality citrus fruit and grapes are grown. This is also where new standards are set for the cultivation and storage of export-grade produce. It is therefore little wonder that the demand for state-of-the-art refrigeration solutions is higher here than anywhere else in the country.
The Golden Mile is essentially the one-mile radius around the highest point in the Groblersdal area, the N11 between Groblersdal and Marble Hall. It has its own microclimate, which makes it ideal for the production of some of the best fruit in the country. The demand for export-quality produce from this small region is so high that property prices have skyrocketed in recent years.
The farmers who invest their time and capital into operations here sell a high-quality product, and they expect refrigeration systems that are up to the task. That’s why one would be hard-pressed to find a farm that uses older technology.
The Role of Proper Refrigeration
Refrigeration is central to the production flow on these farms. The produce has to be cooled overnight to the right temperature by the time that the trucks arrive to ensure that they can make it to their destination without spoiling. This requires that the cooling rooms run at peak efficiency, with no downtime.
These facilities stand idle for just about three quarters of the year, and then they have to ramp up to 24-hour operation for about three months, and outsourcing is more complex. Fully outsourced solutions are most viable if your facility operates for at least eight months of the year. The farmers therefore own all of the refrigeration systems on their sites.
Geographical distance is one of the biggest challenges faced by service providers. Firstly, maintenance crews need to be on-site quickly, meaning that they have to be set up and ready to be dispatched within minutes of getting a call. Secondly, the far distances of these farms from infrastructure such as grid power are a major issue. The further that these facilities are located from town, the weaker their power supply is.
With severe loadshedding as it is currently experienced facilities simply cannot function with the low voltage that they sometimes get from the grid. As a result, most of these facilities have now started to incorporate solar power and batteries with their refrigeration systems. It is actually an ideal match in the end. Solar power is an additional investment in any business, but ensures the continuity of supply, running of the business and if finances are well-managed paid off soon by the company which is known for its continuity and quality.