Entries have officially opened for the inaugural South African Preserve Championships, giving local producers the opportunity to showcase their finest preserved products. The competition welcomes producers and small businesses from across the country, celebrating a wide range of preserved fruit and vegetable items across nearly 200 categories. These include jams, marmalades, chutneys, pickles, pestos, and many other handcrafted goods.
Judging and Recognition
A panel of expert judges, led by culinary education specialist Susina Jooste as the chief judge, will evaluate the entries through a blind tasting process, followed by an independent audit. According to Breyton Milford, General Manager of Agri-Expo and organizer of the competition, this is a prime opportunity for South African producers to gain national recognition, build industry networks, and celebrate the craft of preservation.
Launch and Vision
The South African Preserve Championships were officially launched at Soetmelksvlei. Among those present were Chris Fourie, President of Agri-Expo; Stephanie le Roux, Council Member of Agri-Expo; Dr Mogale Sebopetsa, Head of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture; Susina Jooste, Chief Judge; Dr Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism; and Adele Johnson, General Manager of Soetmelksvlei.
Milford expressed Agri-Expo’s enthusiasm for expanding its commitment to agricultural processing. Building on years of experience hosting the South African Dairy Championships, the organization sees this new competition as a platform to honour exceptional products and promote continuous innovation and improvement in the preserve industry.
Entry Guidelines and Dates
To be eligible, all products must be available in their respective markets at the time of entry and must be accessible to the general public—whether through shops, farm stalls, or local markets.
Entries opened on May 5 and will close on June 25. However, late entries will be accepted until 1 July . All products must be delivered on either 21 or 22 July with judging taking place on 23 July at Eensgezind, just outside Durbanville. The awards ceremony is scheduled for August 6.
The entry fee is R150 per product (excluding VAT). For those entering after June 25, the late entry fee is R250 per product (excluding VAT). Participants can complete the entry form online at www.sapreservechamps.co.za.
For additional information, interested participants can email [email protected]. Agri-Expo also invites the public to stay updated and join the conversation on social media by following @AgriExpo1 on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn, using the hashtags #AgriExpo and #SAPreserveChamps.
