Pure South African saffron “deserves to be better known”

Saffron (Crocus sativa) is more valuable than gold, and with a yield of between 1kg to 5kg per hectare, depending on the soil and climate, a farmer only needs to plant a small area for a big income. Moreover, in the right climate, three harvests a year are possible, and all the while the bulbs themselves also increase threefold.

To Laeveld Agrochem, a South African crop optimization company, the value of adding a saffron component to the rest of a farm’s divisions is very clear. To this end, they provide saffron bulbs, along with soil analysis and technical assistance on its cultivation, to farmers. Laeveld Agrochem then buys the saffron crop from the grower (the stigma already removed from the flower, a very time-consuming activity).

Laeveld Agrochem, together with Saffricon have been the main drivers behind the recent establishment of a saffron industry in South Africa.

South African saffron is of high quality

The last year’s crop was sold to local retailers but with volumes rising as the number of plantings increase, this product deserves to be better known among buyers looking for pure, unadulterated saffron, says Vincent Keesenberg, export and marketing director of Origin Fruit based in Pretoria, South Africa.

Above: extracting the stamen (the female parts) of the saffron flower is a delicate procedure. Photo supplied by Origin Fruit

“We have tested the quality of our saffron and it has been found to be of high quality, but South African saffron is not yet well-known,” he says. “The quality test results are available for interested buyers.”

Saffron would be well-suited to be exported in 1kg, 2kg and 5kg format for repacking at destination.

Vincent remarks that for the interested farmer, the main requirement would be sandy, free-draining soil and, as such, saffron has already attracted some Limpopo table grape farmers. Saffron is well-suited to arid regions with sandy soils.

Saffron is a powerful antioxidant and prized for its health benefits as well as, of course, for its powerful pigment used in dyes.

Featured photo by Mohammad Amiri on Unsplash

The original article appeared at www.freshplaza.com/article/9431347/pure-south-african-saffron-deserves-to-be-better-known/