In the Swaershoekberge of Limpopo, one of the many microclimates within the Waterberg range, early stonefruit have been grown since the late 1970s, but the development of low chill stonefruit has been pivotal for this area which can pick peaches and nectarines two months ahead of the Western Cape.
When Koos van der Merwe turned fulltime to fruit farming at age 43, he established his orchards on the northern slopes within the valley in which his farm, Zandrivier, is located. The farm…