Part V - Tongaat Mushrooms in Bryanston, South Africa

Early in bed by 2:00 and rising again at 7:30 for the 2nd day of the Congress on November 21, 1985.

We had breakfast and Pieter opened the day by being the first one to lecture and as usual, showing his slides.

For lunch we drove to the Tongaat Mushroom Farm in Bryanston, where they used wooden trays as tables and we were seated on straw bales. 

It is here, where I got bitten by a stray puppy, a Rhodesian ridge back.

It gobbled up some of the meat of my kebob and when I gave it also bread, it bit in my finger!

'Biting the hand that's feeding you', as mentioned in my Newspaper Publication (link below this post).

Always interesting to be really in the field, a practical class room so to speak!

Husband Pieter sure did climb up somewhere high enough for making this photo!

He was always such an avid photographer!

Me, pondering in this Mushroom growing room at the time of harvest...

Having a peek inside the Tongaat Mushroom farm where the harvesters were picking away.

Harvester in action.

This is the end result in the packaging area where they will be wrapped and labeled.

That very afternoon, Pieter also did an interview for their Farmer's Weekly and it got published on January 10, 1986.

IT'S TOUGH FOR MUSHROOM GROWERS

SOUTH AFRICAN mushroom growers face a tougher task than their fellow-growers in other parts of the world, says international mushroom expert, Mr. Pieter Vedder, who visited South Africa as a guest of the Mushroom Growers' Association.

"Mushrooms thrive in damp, dark conditions and farmers in this country must invest enormous amounts of money so as to control the climatic conditions necessary for successful mushroom growing," he says.

Mr. Vedder has been involved in the education and training of mushroom growers in his capacity as director (principal) of the Centrum voor Champignonteelt (or Mushroom School) at Horst in the Netherlands.

VICE PRESIDENT

He was appointed director (principal) of the school at its inception in 1968 and headed it until he resigned in 1983 to take up the post of vice-president of training and development at the Campbell Soup mushroom division.

"Mushroom growing is an enormously sophisticated process. The grower is creating the ideal conditions for the growth of all fungi ― and the grower has to cultivate just one fungus. Obviously the strictest attention is given to creating the most hygienic conditions possible," he says. 

Mr. Vedder is best known for his book Modern Mushroom Growing, which was first published in Dutch in 1964. An English version was published in 1978 and has rapidly become the bible for mushroom growers.

It is generally accepted that the Netherlands mushroom industry leads the world in growing techniques and yields. In 1984 the Dutch industry produced more than 94 million kg of mushrooms with an average production of 24 kg/m2.

He says: "Mushrooms are the ideal crop for the Netherlands. The crop is labour intensive, doesn't require much land and grows well in the Netherlands climate."

This is Mr. Vedder's first visit to this country and he is not disappointed in the mushroom industry here.

"Obviously growers in South Africa suffer because of their geographically isolated position ― they don't have the daily contact with other growers as do farmers in Europe. However, in spite of some serious drawbacks, South Africa produces mushrooms of excellent quality."

He says the presentation and the packaging of mushrooms in South Africa compares favorably with the best standards in the world. 

The above article got sent to us on January 8, 1986 together with the black and white photos that I showed you in my previous Part IV.

On April 16 we got this reaction to the article that I wrote for the Courier Herald (see link below, My South Africa Publication...).

Fond memories of that special day!

We did also attend a Rotary Club dinner-meeting with the club of Kyalami South.
Pieter exchanged the Rotary Club's flag from Dublin, Georgia, USA for theirs to bring back with us.

Quite an experience for one single day...

Thanks for visiting and stay tuned for Part VI

Related links:
Part IV - INDABA Hotel, Spa & Conference Centre in Bryanston, South Africa | previous post by me
Part III - Highveld Mushrooms in Bryanston, South Africa | previous post by me
Part II - Pretoria and Sandton City, South Africa | previous post by me
Part I - Johannesburg, South Africa | previous post by me
My South Africa Publication Around Husband Pieter's Lectures at Congress | previous post by me

Part IV - INDABA Hotel, Spa & Conference Centre in Bryanston, South Africa

On Tuesday, November 19, we left from Highveld Mushrooms, and we got dropped off at the Congresscentrum INDABA in Bryanston.
INDABA is Meeting Place in Zulu language.

These were the lovely chalets where we stayed at: INDABA 

Indaba Hotel en Konferensie Sentrum

Harbeespoortdamweg, Witkoppen in Bryanston, north of Johannesburg.

This is the presently used address, Johannesburg.

Pieter Wenning Road... You clearly see the Dutch influence in the names.

As is for my Dutch born husband Pieter, the use of 'ie' instead of just 'e' -  the English version would be Peter.

NEVER had we seen such enormous LIGHTNING POLES...

Pieter did change into his shorts after they dropped us here at INDABA, at the end of the day.

A little time to relax before dinner, under the heavenly Jacaranda trees.

And so did I, just being in the moment for soaking up our beautiful surroundings.

Pieter admiring the surroundings of Bryanston, South Africa in the morning of November 20.

We both felt so privileged for having been invited to this Conference!

Areal view of INDABA HOTEL and its location, north of Johannesburg, South Africa.

On Wednesday, November 20, Pieter gave one of his lectures at 9:45 and then there was a coffee break.

Pieter engaged in a conversation with other Mushroom Industry people after he also participated in the afternoon workshop.

Yes, South Africa adheres very well to the Dutch coffee break tradition + cookie...

In the evening we had a lovely Banquette with dinner dance.

Here Pieter (l) is engaged in a discussion with SMFA Chairman, Colin Jacobson.

Pieter also was presented a special tie.

SASBV Suid-Afrikaanse Sampioenboerevereniging or SAMFA for South African Mushroom Farmers Association, established in 1984, click on link.

A Century of South African Short Stories by JEAN MARQUARD

And I received the above book with short stories about South Africa.

There was lots of laughter because the photographer had problems and Colin Jacobson had to repeat kissing me...

 We danced and after a walk together, for unwinding, we went to bed by 2:00 and up again by 7:30...

The SAMFA Congress would go on for one more day, but it was heart warming to receive such a letter back in the U.S.A.

Dear Pieter,

I am so pleased that you were able to make the trip to our country and to participate in our Congress.

I think everyone who met you was impressed with your tremendous knowledge of mushroom growing and as a result of your visit, I am sure that changes will be made on many farms, which will result in improved crops.

It was delightful having met yourself and Mariette and I hope that you had a pleasant return flight.

Kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

C. Jacobson

Chairman

Thanks for your visit and stay tuned for Part V

Related links:
Part III - Highveld Mushrooms in Bryanston, South Africa | previous post by me
Part II - Pretoria and Sandton City, South Africa | previous post by me
Part I - Johannesburg, South Africa | previous post by me
My South Africa Publication Around Husband Pieter's Lectures at Congress | previous post by me

Part III - Highveld Mushrooms in Bryanston, South Africa

November 19, we got up at 7:00 and had breakfast. We packed up and checked out from the Holiday Inn, Sandton.
By 9:00 Chris Richardson picked us up. We are going to visit his and Colin Jacobson's Highveld Mushrooms farm.
David Blyth, the farm manager gave us a tour.

Here I proudly show off their excellent quality mushrooms.

On  the road to Highveld Mushrooms, seeing the road signs: Pretoria - Olifantsfontein and Pelindaba

And now closer to Highveld Mushrooms.

You can see the mountains in the distance.

At Highveld Mushrooms click link for also finding mouthwatering recipes!

We first got a farm tour by manager David Blyth.

Around 11:00 I met with Elizabeth, the Zulu harvest manager and I did give a harvest demonstration for all.

Yes, I did work all afternoon with these girls and I did leave Elizabeth a written note with hints and tips for implementing. She was so happy with that and hugged me and said: 'I will tell my Mama all about you!'

Yes, we have seen some tribal women in South Africa making their faces WHITE, as seen in this picture to the left towards top rows.

Showing off Higveld's product.

Open Brown Mushrooms or Oop Bruin Sampioene in Afrikaans.

Highveld Mushroom produce in their cold storage.

A very warm letter from Highveld Mushrooms director, Colin Jacobson after he received some photographs and a copy of my article for the Courier Herald (see link below about My South Africa Publication...)

The above mentioned South African farm manager, David Blyth, did actually visit us in Dublin, Georgia on August 10, 1986!
 Here in this photo is husband Pieter, David Blyth from Highveld Mushrooms, South Africa and Jim Yeatman from, Pennsylvania.

David Blyth to the left, me in the center and Jim Yeatman from Organic Mushrooms to the right.
SMALL WORLD...

In Maastricht, The Netherlands (the capital of my Province) we met again with the next generation of Highveld Mushrooms people, in May of 2000 at the International Mushroom Science Congress
Guess this must be Chris Richardson's son Ross...

Thanks for your visit and stay tuned for Part IV

Related links:

modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting | post about our newest publication

Part II - Pretoria and Sandton City, South Africa | previous post by me
Part I - Johannesburg, South Africa | previous post by me
My South Africa Publication Around Husband Pieter's Lectures at Congress | previous post by me

SaveSave