OnTap Magazine

It is one of the truly iconic duos in the world of beer: a cold Corona and a wedge of lime.   Not only is the lime wedge the traditional way to serve a Corona beer, it also acts to enhance the flavour of the beer. But as South African Breweries’ Corona beer started growing in popularity in South Africa, the company noticed a shortage of locally available limes. SAB saw an opportunity to address that issue in a truly meaningful way that delivered value to people, the business, and the environment. Of the over 90,000 hectares of citrus orchards in the country, less than 10% of orchards are dedicated to limes. As a result, Corona drinkers either end up paying for expensive imported limes or they substitute them with lemons, which present a vastly different flavour profile. The answer, therefore, was to increase local production of limes to ensure that they were available to consumers, and at a lower cost than the imported crop.  As a solution, SAB, the Moletele Communal Property Association (Moletele Community), and Komati Fruit Group established a Community Private Partnership (CPP) in 2020 to ensure reliable local production of limes. The Moletele Community made available one of their farms, Richmond Kopano Farm (about 25km from Hoedspruit) which was on lease to the Komati Fruit Group. SAB provided financial support to the tune of R19 million, while Komati Fruit Group brought in farming expertise and skills development, and the Moletele Community contributed the land. All parties to the partnership are equally and actively involved, and that dedication has made Moletele Corona Limes, as the fruit is called, not only a reality, but also a benchmark for lime farming in South Africa.  “This partnership is a purpose-driven intervention that truly exemplifies the beer economy in action and shows the unique power of beer to propel South Africa forward. In our commitment to invest in local industries that are connected to our supply chain, we are anchored in the farming fraternity, especially emerging farmers. Moletele Corona Limes are born out of that charge, and the fruit of this partnership has elevated the production of limes in South Africa, ensuring an all-year supply of the crop. Equally important is the positive change that this intervention has brought to the community of Moletele, from dividends that go to the beneficiary families to job creation, skills development and skills transference,” said Zoleka Lisa, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at SAB.  As an active partner in the production of Moletele Corona Limes, SAB has an offtake agreement in the CPP to buy a guaranteed number of limes. The remainder of the crop is either sold locally or exported. This setup in the partnership ensures that the Corona Moletele Limes have a ready market in SAB, guaranteeing revenue with every harvest. To date, a three-phase planting plan has totalled the tree population to 34,092 lime trees in the 60-hectare farm. The first full harvest in 2023 produced over 1.1 million limes. All the proceeds from the sales of Moletele Corona Limes go back to the 1,615 families that make up the Moletele Community. Further, the workforce that tends to the farm are from the community, with 12 people employed directly, and with indirect employment, both full-time and part-time, supporting up to 55 households.  “This partnership with SAB and Komati Fruit Group is bearing fruit, thanks to the commitment of all the three parties involved. Our livelihoods have been bettered, profits are coming in and we are doing all this sustainably. We have become the largest lime producer in the country – this project is indeed our future!” said Albert Thabane, Chairman of Moletele CPA.  Speaking at the launch, Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Ms. Thokozile Didiza highlighted that, "The Corona Moletele Limes project exemplifies the power of collaboration between private entities, communities, and the government, showcasing what can be achieved when we are all united for a common goal [...] and as government, we are encouraging similar collaborations across the agricultural sector, with equal impact on the farming industry as well as communities at large. It is a sure way to build a more resilient, self-sufficient, and prosperous agricultural landscape for South Africa." SAB INVESTMENT SECURES LOCAL LIMES FOR CORONA DRINKERS Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, with SAB representatives and CPA members at the Moletele community farm. ontapmag.co.za | Autumn 2024 | 9