Alhambra Estate – one of the flagship apple and pear farms in the Witzenberg Properties group – emerged victorious at the 42nd annual Ceres Fruit Growers harvest awards, securing the Chairman’s Trophy for Best General Performance of 2025.
This win marks the eleventh time Witzenberg Properties has lifted the Chairman’s Trophy, but only the second time Alhambra has captured the honour under the group’s stewardship. The estate further cemented its excellence by also winning the Bronaar Trophy for Best Full Red Apples and the GKE Trophy for Best Kanzi Performance.
Witzenberg Properties proprietor, Pieter Graaff, praised the team’s collective effort, highlighting the long-term strategy and orchard redevelopment that positioned Alhambra for success. According to Graaff, the seventeen-year transformation of the estate was central to achieving its full potential.
Growing Conditions and Teamwork Drive Success
Estate manager Herman Botha credited the farm’s performance to Alhambra’s unique microclimate on the slopes of the Matroosberg mountains. The 2025 season offered ideal growing conditions, including ample water, excellent winter chill accumulation, and timely ripening that avoided harvest bottlenecks.
Botha emphasised that consistent, timely practices—from fertilising and irrigation to harvesting—played a major role in producing high-quality fruit. He highlighted the dedication of the management team and agri-workers, noting that the shared passion for the farm creates a culture of excellence.
Witzenberg Properties Sweeps Multiple Trophies
In addition to Alhambra’s achievements, several other Witzenberg Properties estates were honoured. Leeuwenfontein claimed the Umzumaai Trophy for Bon Chretien pears, Die Eike won the Laastedrift Trophy for Mahana Red apples, Dennekruin took the Tru-Cape Trophy for Fuji apples, and Esperanto secured the APL Trophy for Panorama Golden apples.
Production director Tommie Prins said the 2025 season was exceptional in yield, fruit quality, and market conditions, adding that the group continues to invest in new plantings, modern rootstocks, and orchard innovations. Their goal remains consistent: increasing the volume of Class 1 fruit through precision farming and strong orchard management.
A Record-Breaking Season for Ceres
According to Frederick Odendaal, manager of producer services at Ceres Fruit Growers, the 2025 harvest was one of the best seasons yet for the region. Over 13 270 tonnes of Forelle pears were packed, and producers achieved exceptional colour development on key varieties such as Pink Lady and Mahana Red.
Roelf Pienaar, managing director of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, congratulated growers, saying the awards showcase not only individual excellence but also the strength of the broader grower community. He praised the dedication and world-class orchard management that drive the success of Ceres fruit globally.
Honouring Excellence Since 1982
Ceres Fruit Growers has presented the annual harvest trophies since 1982. What began with seven awards has grown to 21 trophies, recognising a range of performance categories across apple and pear production. Winners are determined using a formula that considers fruit size, Class 1 packouts, price per tonne, and other quality metrics.
This year, forty farms across 2 850 hectares in the greater Ceres region competed for top honours. Industry contributors Nic Dicey and Dricus Greeff also received special commendations for their long-standing service to the fruit sector.
Full List of 2025 Trophy Winners
• Umzumaai (Bon Chretien): Witzenberg Properties – Leeuwenfontein
• Izak Hanekom (Abate Fetel): Welgemeen Boerdery – Welgemeen
• Culdevco (Cheeky): PJ Möller Jnr BK – De Vlakte
• Goosen Boerdery (Forelle): Eselfontein Boerdery – Eselfontein
• Morceaux (Packham’s Triumph): Rietvlei Fruit Farming – Rietvlei
• Dennekruin (Rosemarie): Eselfontein Boerdery – Eselfontein
• Laastedrif (Mahana Red): Witzenberg Properties – Die Eike
• Tru-Cape (Fuji): Witzenberg Properties – Dennekruin
• Lakenvlei (Golden Delicious): Sun Sweet Fruit – Waterkloof
• Môrester Houdenbek (Granny Smith): Eselfontein Boerdery – Eselfontein
• GKE (Kanzi): Witzenberg Properties – Alhambra
• APL Cartons (Panorama Golden): Witzenberg Properties – Esperanto
• Die Eike (Royal Gala Red): Welgemeen Boerdery – Welgemeen
• RM Zulch (Royal Beaut): Laastedrif Agri – Kleinvlakte
• Buks Nel (BigBucks Gala): Laastedrif Agri – Uitkoms
• Esperanto (Rosy Glow): Laastedrif Agri – Laastedrif
• Bronaar (Full Red): Witzenberg Properties – Alhambra
• Best Harvest Forecast: Rhodene Agri – Rhodene
• Tru-Cape (Gross Income/ha – Pears): Eselfontein Boerdery
• Tru-Cape (Gross Income/ha – Apples): Cedro-boerdery – Erfdeel 2
• Chairman’s Trophy (Overall Performance): Witzenberg Properties – Alhambra
The 2025 Ceres Fruit Growers awards highlighted a year of excellence, innovation, and resilience across the region’s orchards. Alhambra Estate’s standout performance reflects not only exceptional growing conditions but also years of strategic investment and an unwavering team commitment to quality. With multiple estates securing top honours, Witzenberg Properties reinforced its reputation as a leader in apple and pear production. As the Ceres region celebrates one of its strongest seasons on record, the achievements of its growers continue to elevate South African fruit on the global stage.