“CARA CARA” headline each season accompanied by an all-star lineup of sun-ripened citrus fruit

The unique Middleveld climate of the Loskop Valley is ideal for growing premium citrus cultivars and grants our lemons, soft citrus and oranges with good colour and brix (sugar content). Citrus season begins on the Schoonbee Landgoed farm with lemons in March and continues until the last oranges are harvested in September. During that time, fifteen different cultivars of citrus are nurtured from blossom to fruit.

The first citrus harvested from our blossoming orchards each year is our juicy seeded and seedless lemons known world-wide for their silky yellow colour. This kitchen staple is the only cultivar available from the start to the finish of the season.

Naartjies are ripe-and-ready next and for three to four weeks in late April or early May, Clementines and Novas take centre stage. Clementines are very early sweet naartjies with smooth, shiny skin which is very easy to peel. Novas are sweeter with rich flavor and create an excellent eating experience. Their firmness has made Novas very popular in the Far East .

Premium mandarins, Royal Honey Murcott  and Leanri, step onto the scene soon after the naartjies. Discovered by chance 20 years ago in Australia, Royal Honey Murcott’s low acidity, high sugar and limited seeds ensure an exceptional eating experience. Leanri is a seedless mandarin originating in South Africa with a smooth finely pebbled thin peel and plump juicy orange-coloured flesh.

The Cream of the Citrus Crop

While each cultivar we produce is carefully selected for their production ability and world class eating experience, Cara Cara are premium navel oranges popular with growers and consumers alike. The bright orange skin peels easily, revealing red flesh with more complex flavors evoking notes of cherry, rose petal and blackberry. Over and above their unique taste and colour, Cara Cara oranges contain 20% more Vitamin C and 30% more Vitamin A than other navels oranges.

The citrus season draws to a close with an abundance of choice: the unique tasting Orri Premium Mandarin with its origins in Israel; the juicy Turkey Orange which differentiates itself from standard Valencia Oranges with consistently high juice content, low seed number, soft flesh and good eating quality; the easy-peeling Nadorcots (the most popular mandarin globally!) with a deep orange colour, excellent flavour and no seeds; the seedless Late Navels have a rich, juicy flavour and are firm, high in sugar and have an extremely long shelf.

The Hands Behind the Harvest

Schoonbee Landgoed believes in inspiring the people in our communities and building a remarkable nation by transforming adversities into hope, problems into opportunities and trials into triumph. Making a difference in our society and local communities as a whole is integral to our business philosophy.

The farm is committed to create a change that has a positive, sustainable impact across our country. This is not just about providing funding, but to empower people and communities through skills development, education, health, community and wellbeing, socio-economic transformation and job creation.

Schoonbee Landgoed employs 750 people from our neighbouring communities in our pack house and another 1200 people to pick the fruit each harvest. 68% of those hard workers are women, most of whom are breadwinners looking after an average of 6 persons each. The unemployment rate in our area is 68%.

Bursting with Sun-ripened Goodness

Citrus fruit are very nutritious, offering a host of vitamins, minerals and plant compounds that help keep you healthy.

• The Vitamin C that citrus famously provides is a nutrient that strengthens the immune system and keeps your skin smooth and elastic.
• Citrus fruit are rich in plant compounds that have various health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that can benefit heart health by improving cholesterol levels and lowering blood pressure.
• Flavonoids found in citrus fruits have anti-inflammatory capabilities that potentially protect the nervous system from deteriorating, thereby helping to ward off neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons.
• Citrus fruit are good sources of soluble fiber, helping to lower cholesterol levels and aid digestion. They are also are low in calories yet filling, making them a smart choice for managing weight.
• Eating citrus fruit is a great natural alternative to potassium citrate supplements as they may help lower the risk of kidney stones by raising citrate levels in urine.

Citrus fruit are full of so much goodness that with only one or two servings a day you can meet your daily recommended allowance of Vitamin C and minerals such as niacin and zinc.

Where in the World?

Citrus fruit with their immune-boosting goodness have an exceptional shelf life, making them a wise choice in these days of excessive food prices.

Schoonbee Landgoed exports our lemons, soft citrus and oranges to more than 60 countries and supply to all municipal markets and significant retailers in South Africa.

Our export-quality citrus fruit is available at local prices from our online shop in a variety of options ranging from 500g punnets to 15kg boxes.