Our Values
We pride ourselves on our dedication to our produce, our people and you, our customer. At Laastedrif Agri, everything we do is centred around six principles that we live by.
Accreditation
QUALITY – WE CARE
We are passionate about the quality of our produce, and it shows. We take pride in growing fruit and vegetables in harmony with nature, and handle our produce with the greatest of care in order to bring the best of nature’s bounty to homes worldwide.
Laastedrif Agri strives to achieve the highest standards in everything we do, every day of the year, whether we are tending and harvesting our crops or packing, storing and transporting our produce.
Measures to help ensure the quality of our produce include:
– careful management of fertiliser and pesticide application, complemented by the use of biological control;
– documenting procedures from field to dispatch, ensuring full traceability of produce;
– training staff in food handling, hygiene and safety;
– laboratory testing of produce for pesticide residue levels;
– close monitoring of the cold chain to maintain product quality and integrity, and
– regular internal and external inspections and audits.
The quality of Laastedrif Agri’s produce has been recognised with accreditation and certification by a wide range of industry stakeholders including:
ACCREDITATIONS:
RETAILERS:
Social Responsibility
PEOPLE – OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE
Our people, many of whom have been part of Laastedrif Agri for generations, are our most valuable resource. The pride and care they show in all aspects of our business – from the planting and tending of crops to the packing and shipping of produce – are essential to our success.
We provide permanent residency for more than 150 employees and their families. During our peak season we employ up to 900 people throughout the company.
We are committed to providing our employees with a fair and safe living and work environment and adding to their general well-being. Initiatives include decent housing with subsidised water and electricity, a state-subsidised crèche and aftercare facility for the children of working mothers, and a state-subsidised primary school and library. We also supply fresh produce to soup kitchens and feeding schemes in the Ceres area on a regular basis.
In 2003 we transferred 60% of the ownership of Morceaux farm to workers with five years of service or more, in recognition of their valuable contribution. Morceaux is Laastedrif Agri’s empowerment farm.
A retirement housing project is currently underway on Morceaux for long-standing employees, yet another way of ploughing back into the community.
Training and education are another priority and we invest in courses and further training for our workforce.
Our Values
RESULTS ORIENTED
We are passionate about the quality of our produce, and that every Laastedrif Agri product has the freshness and quality that you have come to expect.
COLLABORATION
At Laastedrif Agri we strive to work with our partners, retailers and conservation projects.
INTEGRITY
Integrity is a core value that everybody at Laastedrif Agri strives to uphold, and it shows in our dealings with partners and retailers.
CARE
From the planting and tending of crops to the packing and shipping of produce, we take the utmost care to ensure that you taste the love that we’ve put in.
INNOVATION
Innovation is a core value – we continuously invest in developing, testing and introducing new produce varieties to enhance our offering.
PRIDE
Everybody at Laastedrif Agri takes pride in providing you with the highest quality produce.