SRCC Milestones
It’s good for the environment, and it’s good for you.
Celebrating the Legacy and important milestones of the Sundays River Citrus Company.
The development of the Sundays River began with James Somers Kirkwood, who founded the Sundays River Land and Irrigation Company in 1883.
Our History
SINCE 1924
Celebrating 100 years of SRCC
1920’s
Mules were used to pull four-wheeled wagons carted lug boxes in and out of orchards. Lug boxes were stacked near the sheds and transported to the packhouse when a hundred lug boxes were ready.
27th March 1924
17 farmers formed the Sundays River Citrus Co-Operative Company Limited.
July 1925
The members of the Sundays River Valley Citrus Co-Operative had risen to 55, with a total of 70,000 trees.
1926
The first packhouse was built in Addo.
7 January 1927
A railway line, spanning 20 miles from Addo to Kirkwood, was inaugurated.
1951
A second packhouse was built in Kirkwood.
1960’s
Introduction of bulk trailers (Bakwaens) for fruit transport, replacing wooden lug- boxes.
Late 1960’s
Terrible drought in the SRV.
1970’s
Kirkwood Packhouse burnt down.
1979
Kirkwood Packhouse rebuilt/replaced.
1980’s
Shipping of export fruit on pallets as opposed to loose cartons – had a significant impact on packhouse systems etc . SRCC shareholders increased from 55 to over 300 in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.
1997
All fruit industries in South Africa were de-regulated in terms of the new Marketing of Agricultural Products Act (No.47 of 1996). The Act provided for the dissolution of the control boards along with single channel marketing arrangements in almost all agricultural products.
1998
Summerville packhouse completed.
2002
Invested in APL Cartons.
2004
Roughly 45% of the fruit was transported using the bulk "bakke" method, while the remaining 55% was shifted to crates.
2006
Bulk trailers were officially phased out and no longer in use.
2009
Last seasonal citrus traffic handled by rail.
2010
SRCC established the SRCC Foundation Trust with the sole objective of assisting and empowering the disadvantaged community in the Sundays River Valley. The Trust is a registered public benefit organisation.
2014
Investment in Venco Fruit Processors.
2015
SRCC Purchased Addo Cold Store and renamed it to SRCC Cold Storage. SRCC initiated the Ikamva Lethu Project.
2016
Ingqweba Packhouse, a state-of-the-art packhouse in Kirkwood was completed. Establishment of the SRCC Russia Representation Office.
2017
The inception of the SRCC Freight Forwarding Department in the same year enhanced SRCC's value chain.
2018
Completed upgrade to SRCC Cold Storage. Capacity for 1860 additional slots was created.
2021
Additional degreening facilities at Hermitage Packhouse was completed.
2022
SRCC & Battaglio formed a fruit production partnership Agricola Sundays in the Sundays River Valley.
2023
Line 3 upgrade.
2024
Celebrating 100 years of SRCC
2025
Line 1 Upgrade.