RedHarvest Tomato Farms (Pty) Ltd Business Plan › Operations Plan

12.1 Farm Infrastructure

The operational infrastructure is designed to support commercial-scale production with emphasis on efficiency, product quality, and worker welfare. Core infrastructure includes the irrigation system (drip lines on 120 hectares served by a centralised pump station with filtration, fertigation dosing, and automated scheduling capability), a modern packhouse facility with mechanical washing, optical grading, and packing lines capable of processing 80 tonnes per day, cold room storage of 400 m³ at full capacity maintaining 8–12°C, equipment storage and a maintenance workshop, a farm office complex with administration facilities, and worker accommodation for permanent staff.

12.2 Water Management

Water is the critical resource for tomato production in the semi-arid Limpopo region. RedHarvest will secure a water use licence from the Department of Water and Sanitation for extraction from the Limpopo River, supplemented by on-farm storage reservoirs. Drip irrigation reduces water consumption to approximately 5,000–6,000 m³ per hectare per growing cycle, compared to 8,000–10,000 m³ for conventional flood irrigation. Total annual water demand at full production is estimated at 1.2 million m³. Water quality monitoring and filtration ensure optimal system performance and crop health.

12.3 Labour Plan

All employment practices comply with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the Sectoral Determination for the Farm Worker sector (minimum wage R27.58 per hour as at 2025/26), and applicable occupational health and safety legislation. The company will provide worker transport, protective equipment, and on-farm ablution and rest facilities.

12.4 Supply Chain and Distribution

Harvested tomatoes are transported from field to packhouse within two hours of picking to maintain quality. After grading and packing, fresh market product is pre-cooled and dispatched in refrigerated trucks to the Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban fresh produce markets. Transit time to Johannesburg is approximately 6 hours via the N1 highway. Processing tomatoes are dispatched in bulk bins to contracted processors, typically within 24 hours of harvest. The company will maintain a fleet of two refrigerated trucks and contract additional capacity during peak periods.

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