Carpe Diem

The family feel the need to expand their farming. They bought Carpe Diem Estate in 1997; the farm is situated about 10 kilometres to the east of Upington. Total hectares under production are 135 Hectares and the farms are fully organic accredited from 2011.
The farm is producing organic export table grapes and raisins and pecan nuts.

More About Carpe Diem Group

Carpe Diem Raisins (Pty) Ltd (“CDR”) established in 2006 is a packer and raisin exporter located 10km from Upington in the Northern Cape, exporting approximately 10 000 tons of raisins to foreign buyers. CDR is 50% held by Johan van der Colff Trust and 50% held by KLK Limited.
The raisin packing factory has a production capacity of 12 000 tons. The current managing director, Gog van der Colff has approximately 16 years’ experience in growing raisins and 10 years in the raisin export industry.

Gog van der Colff was voted as the Toyota Young Farmer of the Year 2011. Gog van der Colff’s father, Johannes van der Colff has been growing table grapes and raisins in the Upington region for the last 40 years.

CDR packs and markets approximately 22% of South Africa’s total raisin production. Approximately 5% of production is sold to the local market and approximately 95% are exported all around the world.

Carpe Diem’s infrastructure and facility is accredited to export and to supply South African buyers such as Woolworths, Cadburys and Chipkins. CDR export 14 raisin varieties with the bulk of their exports being Golden Sultanas, Thompson, Flame and OR.
CDR has a staff compliment of 27 permanent staff and 115 seasonal staff. Carpe Diem produces 100% organic export table grapes, raisins and pecan nuts.