Q-Cumberland

General Information

• The cucumber operation is based on a hydroponic method of production
• The plants are grown hydroponically using clean washed river sand in 15 ltr black plastic growing bags.
• These are grown under plastic shade netting in green houses/tunnels
• Each plant is fed water and nutrients every hour through a computerized dripper system.
• There are two crop seasons/rotations every year.
• All production is delivered to both the JHB and Pretoria fresh produce markets with our own transport

Fixed Infrastructure

• There are seven net tunnel structures on site covering about one hectare in area. Arial pic showing possible expansion options.
• Each tunnel structure contains roughly 4,000 plants
• There are roughly 28,000 plants at any given time
• There are two computer-controlled irrigation pump stations to cover the operation. These consist of a main irrigation pump, computer controller, and mixing pump together with the six 5000 ltr bulk storage tanks each
• A good strong borehole is the main supply of water to the entire farm operation and the Ashante Lodge complex
• The water is of excellent quality with water analysis reports available
• The weir on the river serves as backup water supply to the entire operation
• There is a concrete holding reservoir on the hill that supplies gravity fed pressure water to the farm operations
• There is a basic packing area and a number of storage facilities
• There is an office with toilet and adjacent storage shed together with tractor shed and truck cover shelter
• The staff housing area has quarters to accommodate about 20 staff
• There is a nursery tunnel that has its own computerized irrigation system and water storage tank