Prune Tree Symbol of Future

The International Prune Association (IPA) recently planted a young prune tree on the grounds of a farm school, Botha’s Halte Primary School, in the Breede River Valley, a couple of kilometres from where the most successful South African prune variety was first discovered in the 1960s.

The tree, a Van der Merwe prune variety, is considered to be one of the best prune varieties in the world. The IPA recently visited the region and was so impressed with the state-of-the-art farm school on Bosjes Farm that they decided to donate a tree to the school. The prune variety was discovered on a neighbouring farm that belonged to Koos van der Merwe.