MOUTON CITRUS (PTY) LTD

Our core business is the production, packing and exporting of a full basket of citrus varieties. All our own production is Fairtrade (FLO) accredited and our Rooibos is certified organic (Ecocert), and we adhere to stringent international accreditation standards. We operate near the small town of Citrusdal, in the Western Cape of South Africa. Our farms are situated along the Elephants River and flanked by the imposing Cederberg Mountains. The area enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and cold, wet winters, making it ideal for the production of novel varieties and citrus of the very highest standards. The region is free of phytosanitary citrus pests such as Citrus Blackspot, Greening and Citrus Canker. We aim to position ourselves as a direct supplier to leading global retailers and selected target markets in the Americas, Europe and Asia. We predominantly export our own produce, complimented by the fruit of carefully selected grower partners. Mouton Citrus is proudly owned by the Mouton family and its empowerment partners, including Mgro – an empowerment company representing our employees. We strongly believe in creating a culture of acceptance of ownership at all levels of the organisation. Since 1985, there has been a conscious drive to empower core personnel at all levels of the organisation, through selection, training, leadership development, management participation and acceptance of ownership. Employees and participative management structures were ready for an empowerment deal based on solid business principles by 2002. In 2002 Mgro Ltd (derived from ‘empowered growth’) bought 10.7% MCPL shares through Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) grants from the South African government, giving 236 workers direct and effective ownership. Shareholders have subsequently benefited from comprehensive growth in share value, performance bonuses, skills transfer, capacity building and social services. MCPL continues to provide and facilitate a wide range of benefits including housing, electricity, water, sanitation, health care, child and elderly care, schooling and study bursaries, transport, sport facilities and social clubs.