The marula fruit harvesters with Managing Director of Heiniken Beverages, Jordi Borrut, MEC for Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Tshitereke Matibe and the Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality Mayor Merrium Malatji.
As the Limpopo government continues its endevours to explore the beneficiation of the marula fruit, MEC for Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Tshitereke Matibe on Tuesday met with Heiniken Beverages, under which the Amarula Brand is produced, to discuss possible partnership opportunities.
The discussions took place between the MEC accompanied by the Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality Mayor Merrium Malatji with LEDET tourism and enterprise development officials, and Managing Director of Heiniken Beverages, Jordi Borrut together with company executives.
The marula fruit is currently in season, as such, many rural harvesters have begun collecting the fruit to supply to producers such as Heineken Beverages in Phalaborwa, brewing for commercial purposes and for personal consumption.
Limpopo has the highest concentration of Marula Trees in South Africa, supplying all the fruits that make Amarula an internationally aclaimed liqueur.
In an effort to ensure local benefits for brewers, department of Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism has established the Marula Industry that houses 14 women-led cooperatives who harvest the fruit in its season.
The department is exploring ways to drive industrialisation and produce byproducts that will encourage job creation all year round, beyond just the three months of the fruit’s season currently exploited.
MEC for Ledet, Tshitereke Matibe and Jordi Borrut of Heiniken Beverages.