How Cultura Fresh Is Using Hydroponic Technology To Deliver Fresh Produce To Its Clients
How Cultura Fresh Is Using Hydroponic Technology To Deliver Fresh Produce To Its Clients. Cultura Fresh began operations in 2016 on a wholly owned farm in Klapmuts, Western Cape. Cultura Fresh is a fully certified hydroponic farm using hydroponic farming methods to grow and deliver packaged fresh produce to clients including major national retailers. Cultura Fresh’s hydroponic methodology enables a significantly higher yield than traditional agriculture.
On a unit for unit basis Cultura Fresh uses 90% less water per head than open-land farming. Using hydroponic methods to grow fresher produce has allowed Cultura Fresh to grow produce which have a significant advantage over soil grown heads: the produce is consistently tastier, has a higher nutritional value and has a longer shelf life.
Hydroponic technology creates food security in climates where arable land is declining and results in more sustainable agricultural practices than traditional farming. Cultura Fresh uses 90% less water per head of lettuce All water used is recycled and sourced from boreholes. Natural sunlight is used for growing products, which is more sustainable Cultura Fresh has installed solar panels to increase sustainability of existing practices. High quality seeds and nutrients picked which results in a superior end-product Hydroponic methods means that there is little to no pesticide contamination to end-product.
Cultura Fresh has managed to partner with companies such as, Stadia Capital which has extensive experience in corporate finance and private equity across Africa. Stadia Capital brings years of experience in financial management as well as its extensive network and Secha Capital, which is an impact investing holding company with a mandate to create jobs in SA via investments into SMEs. Secha Capital has experience across a number of sectors, including agribusiness. Secha Capital’s management team takes operational roles within operating companies and works alongside SME founding teams to supplement the human capital alongside the injection of financial capital.
Cultura Fresh produces a range of iceberg lettuce, decorative lettuce, butter lettuce, COS lettuce, baby gem lettuce, trio lettuce, cauliflower and tenderstem cauliflower and broccoli to major retailers across the country. Cultura Fresh is one of the only producers able to consistently supply high quality iceberg lettuce throughout the year.
