A RAISIN farmer SAYS
Agarob Troost from the farm Fredericksveldt is a wine farmer who recently entered the raisin business. He was one of the first farmers to farm dry-grape cultivars in Piketberg.
How did you get involved in the raisin industry?
I am still new in the business, but I wanted to diversify because the wine industry can be difficult at times. The table-grape farmers around me started to make raisins from cultivars that are no longer doing well on the export market, and I decided to look into it. I have planted raisin cultivars for the past three years now.
What cultivars are you planting?
About two thirds of my cultivars are Selma Pete and the rest are Thompson Seedless (sultanas). In the beginning, people said the grapes wouldn’t dry in our area, but I haven’t had any issues. The new cultivars, like Selma Pete, have about
