One of the largest vegetable farms in the Eastern Free State, Benco lies in the shadow of the Maluti mountains.
We truly believe investing in the land today will yield better results for the future.
Success is not achieved alone, so we have searched out the best people to team up with. Together we strive to bring you the finest quality produce possible.
Our Values
At Benco we believe we are stewards of the land and must do all that we can to take good care of it for the future. As such, our produce is chemical-free and we are committed to maintaining good soil health.
We strive through dedication, hard work, and creative thinking to continually improve the quality of our produce and processes.
It is not a right to harvest a good crop; it’s a privilege that comes from grace. No crop is guaranteed, we work hard but continually trust in God’s grace through the good seasons and the bad.
We work as a team. No person can be an expert in every field so we have teamed up with people who have the expertise we need to keep improving.
In 2022, Benco was recognised by the Shoprite Group as the top supplier from the Northern Cape and Free State region in the fruit and vegetable department, qualifying as one of the top 5 suppliers in the country.
WE SUPPLY
Direct Supplier
Direct Supplier
Direct Supplier
Direct Supplier
Direct Supplier
Supply to pack-houses for final packaging
Supply to pack-houses for final packaging
OUR PRODUCE
CABBAGE
Various cabbage varieties are planted in our greenhouse over 26 weeks and then mechanically transplanted into the irrigated fields for another 26 weeks. Harvesting takes place from January to August. Cabbage is extremely labor-intensive, and we work with 250 seasonal workers to harvest and package top quality produce at scale.
SUMMER CROPS
In addition to cabbage, we also plant gems, potatoes, maize, and soybeans as summer crops.
WINTER CROPS
In the winter months, we repackage and distribute oranges purchased in bulk to provide an additional product for customers who buy vegetables directly from us.
BONSMARA CATTLE
We have a commercial Bonsmara herd, producing high quality heifers through the careful selection of genes from top suppliers such as Zinabos Bonsmara and Frontier Bonsmara.
FARMING FOR THE FUTURE
GLOBAL G.A.P.
Benco is Global G.A.P. certified. Our production processes are certified to meet the highest European standards in the six key impact areas of:
- Food safety
- Environmental sustainability
- Workers’ well-being
- Animal welfare
- Supply chain transparency
- Capacity building
OUR ROOTS
The farm is located in the eastern Freestate between Ladybrand and Clocolan at the foot of the Maluti mountains.
From humble beginnings, Ben and his wife Annatjie Fourie started Benco when they planted some cabbage seeds in their garden. From this point onwards, the Fourie’s have constantly come up with innovations to improve and grow the farm.
They established a greenhouse to cultivate seedlings, built a dam for consistent irrigation and continually improved the process of planting, harvesting and packing cabbages so that today they are able to harvest up to 150 tons of cabbage per day during the summer months. Many of these improvements have been made under the management of Wynand and Bennie Fourie who took over from their father in 2002.
Since 2002, Benco’s land has increased sixfold. Currently 300 hectares are irrigated from the dam. In addition to cabbage – gems, potatoes, maize, and soybeans are also planted. A commercial heard of Bonsmara cattle and the packing of oranges purchased in bulk during the winter months are all part of the farm’s continual expansion.
Always eager to learn and grow, Benco aims to consistently deliver superior quality produce in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
