News

19th Jul 2022

SUSTAINABILE PACKAGING WE REDUCE THE USE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL BY 62% IN THE FRESH PRODUCE SECTIONWe are thrilled to announce that we at Naturesmart have launched our unique, innovative, recyclable, and biodegradable[1] fresh produce packaging.“Our recent packaging aligns strongly with our core value of sustainability,”  says Nico van der Merwe, CEO and co-founder, Naturesmart. This further solidifies our position as a forerunner in the reduction of plastic usage and its carbon footprint whilst simultaneously ensuring cost-effective solutions.Its latest cost-effective design has seen Naturesmart achieve a 62% reduction in the use of plastic material and a 1.5% decrease in carbon omission when compared to packaging alternatives.[1] Biodegradable refers to the paper punnet and not the lid.  Consisting of punnet, ink and lid – the closed design reduces any risk of foreign body contamination whilst still allowing for efficient ventilation.Its specially designed airflow prevents dehydration and allows sufficient cold air to enter the punnet that, in turn, ensures a consistent cold chain environment of benefit to the produce.The slick and modern design follows the latest trends, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing product that further ups the appeal of the fresh produce content.In addition to its components being recyclable and/ or biodegradable – one third of...

21st Apr 2022

NatureSMART, together with Food for Mzanzi, inspires 300 SMART learners! We took part in an incredible event hosted by Food for Mzansi in Ceres, which aimed to educate 300 Western Cape learners about the world of Agriculture and the opportunities associated with this industry. Our CEO Nico van der Merwe took to the stage to advise the learners about the importance of tertiary education after school: “What I learnt from my tertiary education while transitioning to the adult phases, was discipline and problem-solving – these two are extremely, extremely important if you want to make a success in your life.” In the context of what to study, Nico laughs about how he studied winemaking but never made wine. But he reiterates to the learners:  “Don’t underestimate what the transition phase (between school and adulthood) tertiary education brings to the table.”  He explains that regardless of what you study, it is very important that you learn how to solve problems in the value chain,then you will be needed and relevant. “The thing about business is you need to focus on being relevant, and if you lose your relevance, it means you lose your unique selling point. So, this should be the focus always and to make a difference.” The roles...

29th Mar 2021

GrowGreen is our stamp of approval. And this week we finally got our stamp design approved. We have created a logo that will be on any fresh produce which encapsulates future thinking, protecting our earth and inline without Naturesmart values. These include: – Sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices – Optimal packing when using logistic partners to minimise the carbon footprint incurred while transporting – Minimises the use of single-use plastic in the final packaging – Use technology to streamline, enhance and reduce the impact on our environment – Supporting farmers with the same values as ours...

9th Dec 2020

Our CEO, Nico van der Merwe, featured in FreshPlaza in an article about how he and the Namibian government successfully managed to navigate a potential logistical nightmare for the table grape industry. The combination of headwinds closing the harbors and newly imposed Covid regulations on drivers at borders lead to a vast amount of grapes being left in transit in unfavorable conditions. Logistics is just one element of our role in getting fresh produce from the farmer to the consumer at the best price, in the best condition. Read more here: httpsss://lnkd.in/ePerewh ...