Rennie Farms
Another load of quality vegetables
It is the vision of Rennie Farms to be the grower of choice through innovation, reliability and quality.
Rennie Farms
Our Farms
Malandene
Malandene is a 25 hectare farm in Paarl which was purchased in 1979 when the Rennie Family moved from Porterville. It was originally a wine farm, however David Rennie removed the wines and continued farming tomatoes for Woolworths which he had started at his Porterville Farm, Voorwaards. This farm is the site of the packhouses and administrative offices. The area is ideally suited to growing in summer with access to the markets in Cape Town and supply routes from all over South Africa. This farm produces tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs.
Rye Denne
In 1987 the farm Rye Denne in the Perdeberg area of Paarl District was purchased. Here we set about establishing protected growing areas for our standard and specialty tomatoes and transporting them to Malandene for sorting and packing. This farm and the nearby Malandene make up our summer production. Rye Denne is 50 hectares in size and is where the expansion in summer tomatoes will take place in the immediate future.
Vioolsdrift
In order to become dedicated tomato, cucumber and herb growers we would have to produce all year round. To this end we bought a winter production farm in “Vioolsdrift” on the Orange River in 2006, which is in effect the N7 border crossing into Namibia. We grow the same products in Vioolsdrift as we grow in Paarl, but in the winter months which enable us to be 12 month a year suppliers to Woolworths, Freshmark and our other commercial partners. This farm is 75 hectares in size and we farm with tomatoes, cucumbers and table grapes on this farm.
Tamahope
In 2009 we purchased another farm in Vioolsdrift called Tamahope. Tamahope is on the road to the Richtersveld, below Vioolsdrift. This farm is 25 hectares in size and we farm specialty tomatoes, herbs and raisins.
About
1973 David Rennie bought his first Farm in Porterville Area next to the Berg river after completing his BScAgric at Stellenbosch. The farm was a vegetable farm where he farmed a large variety of vegetable for the Epping Market.
1974 David Rennie bought his first tunnels, French Filclair Tunnels and started growing standard tomatoes under plastic protection.
1975 Rennie Farms started supplying Woolworths through a Vegetable packhouse called Glen Bawn in Stellenbosch. They sold out to The Barlows at Vergelegen Farm in Somerset West.
1978 Woolworths approached us to supply them direct from the farm. Rennie Farms is the longest serving tomato supplier to Woolworths.
1979 We bought the farm “Malandene” in Paarl to establish our Tomato production and Packing in a suitable area. The area is ideally suited to growing in summer with access to the markets in Cape Town and supply routes from all over South Africa.
1980 David Rennie was joined by Rob McGregor and the two of them would prove to be the formidable force that grew Rennie Farms into the business that it is today, mainly by having very complimentary skills and personalities.
1983 We introduced the first long life tomato called FA144 into South Africa from Israeli which completely changed the whole production of standard tomatoes in this country. Later this variety evolve into FA593 which was called Daniella and this would become the most sold tomato variety in world. This is still celebrated today by the product called Israeli Tomatoes, which is sold exclusively in Woolworths.
1985 We started growing English Cucumbers in greenhouses which proved a great success. Mini and Medi Cucumbers have been added to this range over the years. We are the longest supplying Cucumber grower to Woolworths.
1987 The farm Rye Denne in the Perdeberg area was purchased. Here we set about establishing a growing area for our tomatoes and transporting them to Malandene for grading and packing.
1988 We introduced a variety called Josephina from Hazera, this was marketed as a Cherry Tomato and was the first cocktail tomato in the market place in South Africa.
1990 Leslie McGregor started growing Fresh Herbs, which we started supplying to Woolworths. The popularity of herbs has grown in South Arica through the various cooking channels and promotion.
1991 Rennie Farms imported a variety called Santa from a seed house in Taiwan called Known You. This was marketed as Rosa Tomatoes in Woolworths and became an iconic brand which remains a best seller to this day.
Over the years we have launched various Specialty tomato such as Bella, Rosalini, Sungreen, Piccolo, Tygerella and lately Large Heirloom tomatoes.
For years we tried to introduce the Italian Roma Tomato and lately we seem to have discovered the correct varieties which have solved the problem of production and customer satisfaction.
2001 We embarked on an export specialty tomato project with Flavorfresh into M&S, this lasted 3 years. It was a steep learning curve, but the margins were too think to continue.
2005 We started supplying Freshmark(Shoprite/Checkers) with the full range of tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs. This has been a very mutually beneficial relationship which culminated in Rennie Farms winning the Freshmark National Supplier of the Year in 2010. A feat that we have been trying to emulate again since then.
2006 David Rennie decided to sell the business into the company called Rennie Farms ( PTY) Ltd. A business 57% owned by the Rennie Family trust, management and the Rennie Farms Worker trust for 43% of the shares. Supported by the Government initiative LRAD. The Rennie Farms Workers Trust was initially 281 members.
2007 We realized that to become dedicated tomato, cucumber and herb growers we would have to produce all year round. To this end we bought a winter production farm in “Vioolsdrift” on the Orange River in 2006 and a few years later this was joined by another farm on the Orange called “Tamahope”.
We grow the same products in Vioolsdrift as we grow in Paarl to be 12 month a year suppliers to Woolworths and Freshmark.
2008 We erected our first tunnel structure at Vioolsdrift for Rosa Tomato production – 2.5H. Planted our first herbs – 1 – 30m tunnel.
2009 Vioolsdrift – erected 4H tunnel for cucumbers. Tamahope was purchased which is on the road to the Richtersveld. In the first year we planted beans and butternut.
2010 Vioolsdrift Boerdery and Tamahope Boerdery had its worst frost and flood year and we decided to erect 6H Net at Vioolsdrift Boerdery and 8H Net at Tamahope Boerdery. Both nest were initially for tomatoes. However the Tamahope net is now used for herbs.
2014 Tamahope – erected a 3H net for tomatoes, which is still in production today.
2015 Vioolsdrift Boerdery – we started planting table grapes and we now have 23H table grapes planted.
2018 Tamahope Boerdery – we planted raisens and in 2020 we picked our first crop.
2020 Rye Denne – we have broken ground on a 2 hectare area on which Haygrove structures will be erected and tomatoes will be planted.
Our belief in South Africa and its people is strong and we hope to grow this business for generations to come in conjunction with our commercial partners.
Our Partners
Legal and Governance
Report unethical behaviour
If you suspect or are aware of any illegal, non-compliant, fraudulent or unethical behaviour, we want to know about it. Anonymously report any incidents by contacting the below details:
063 488 0250 or email us
Combating bribery and corruption
Certifications
We are proudly certified by the organisations listed below. For certifications and enquiry regarding certification compliance you can mail us here.
Address
Kliprug Minor Road
Paarl
Contact
021 863 3313
Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 8:00-17:00