Eric Swarts Farming

Address

 SPIER EST ANNANDALE RD STELLENBOSCH, Western Cape, 7603 

Eric Swarts is an emerging farmer who grows organic vegetables on a 10-hectare farm in the Cape Winelands.

In 1999, after extensive experiencing farming for various commercial food farms, Eric became disillusioned with the commercial agriculture industry, and joined a 14-month training program in organic food farming through Go Organic at Spier, a programme that supported young, emerging farmers from ‘historically disadvantaged communities’.

Over the past twenty-five years, Eric has endured a great deal of trial and error and his processes have undergone much evaluation and change. Initially, he paid for organic certification as part of his agreement with his clients – however, as the increase in the cost of certification over the years was not matched by an increase in the price of vegetables, he was forced to forego organic certification – although he’s determined to stay with organic processes.

His seed is sourced partly from his own plants and partly from commercial seed retailers (the seed is washed prior to sowing).

As part of his involvement with The Green Road, (a local initiative that ensures continued production of good quality natural and organic food by committed farmers who are both joint owners of the supply chain and committed consumers) Eric has been involved in a new volunteer-led certification process – the Participatory Guarantee System of organic certification/guarantee for small growers/farmers. The PGS system requires that consumers and producers participate in the guarantee process of each farm – offering emerging farmers an alternative to costly organic certification.