ASSOCIATIONS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
IIAR Conference set for March 2020
The 2020 IIAR Conference and Heavy Equipment Expo will be held at the Rosen Shingle Creek
at Orlando, Florida from 15-18 March 2020.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The IIAR Technical Program is the core of
the Annual Conference. IIAR publishes
the technical presentations at each
year's conference and provides access
to digital copies to all conference
attendees. They also offer professional
development hour (PDH) / continuing
education unit (CEU) credits which can
be applied to your continuing education
or professional development.
Last year’s Education Programme
section focused on Energy Efficiency
in Natural Refrigeration Systems. This
programme gave an overview of
energy management in an industrial
ammonia refrigeration system, discussed
key opportunities for energy savings in
industrial refrigeration, and enlightened
us about how to operate compressors for
optimal energy efficiency. More of this
can be expected this year. CLA
H
osted by global association, the
International Institute of Ammonia
Refrigeration (IIAR), the conference is
the largest exposition dedicated to the
ammonia and natural refrigeration industry.
Attendees of the Expo come from all
facets of the industry including design
engineers, contractors, end users,
academics, scientists, trainers, and
government agencies. The annual event
reaches a wide and diverse audience of
natural refrigeration professionals. With
exposure to a variety of point of views,
attendees became aware of new ideas
and trends that impact the future of the
natural refrigeration industry.
With over 1 700 in attendance and 150
exhibitors last year, the Expo is the perfect
chance to network and collaborate with
some of the greatest minds in the natural
refrigeration community. Racing legend
Rusty Wallace is this year’s keynote speaker.
Attendees of the IIAR Expo come from all facets of the industry.
HORTGRO: stone fruit industry’s
drought battle continues
By Elise-Marie Steenkamp, communications manager, Hortgro
H
ortgro, the organisation which
represents South Africa’s stone and
top fruit industries, has been
supporting producers and agricultural
workers to manage their product during
the harvesting season.
Hortgro Science, the research engine of
the South African deciduous fruit industry,
work with several industry experts to
provide growers with relevant, research-
based information that will enhance
the quality of their fruit. Growers receive
regular notes and technical updates from
Hortgro Science, highlighting the primary
fruit quality aspects to be adhered to
during heat waves.
Stone fruit production areas such as Little
Karoo from Montagu, Barrydale, Ladysmith,
Calitzdorp, through to Prince Albert, have
suffered severely; with some even losing
their farms, and many farmworkers without
income or jobs.
Hortgro, in association with the Canning
Fruit Producers’ Association, Agri Western
Cape, Agri SA, and Wine TU have pooled
resources to help producers financially to
carry on with the rest of the production
season and contain regional crop
protection risks.
Hortgro also delivered a thousand
food parcels to affected farmworkers in
the Ladysmith area and held a ‘resilience
workshop’ to empower them mentally with
coping strategies.
The drought, however, has in
fact broken in other areas such as
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, and
Hortgro are optimistic that volumes will
continue to increase throughout the
season. Jacques du Preez, general
manager Trade and Markets at Hortgro
says, “We’re projecting an increase of
21% for nectarines compared to last
season’s volumes, an increase of 14%
for peaches and a 10% increase for
plums. The continued droughts in some
areas have, of course, impacted on
the 2019/20 season’s full potential, but
volumes and quality have certainly
improved compared to last year.”
NEW APPOINTMENTS
Stone fruit production areas have suffered severely from the drought, but things are
looking up.
COLD LINK AFRICA •
March/April 2020
Angelo Petersen has been announced
as a new board director. Petersen who
has more than 25 years’ experience as
senior executive, board director, general
manager, and leader in the private
and public sectors, will be joined the
Hortgro Board from January 2020. He is
well-known in the fruit industry and has
The South African stone fruit industry remains committed to supplying consumers with good quality
and great tasting products as the country’s drought continues in production areas.
Angelo Petersen
been the non-executive Chairperson of
the Perishable Products Exports Control
Board (PPECB) since 2013.
According to Petersen he is looking
forward to bringing his experience
and learnings to advance the
mandate of Hortgro by ensuring good
corporate governance and enhancing
engagement with all stakeholders.
“I want to help create an enabling
environment to increase the export
competitiveness of the pome and stone
fruit industries, and to contribute to the
ongoing transformation initiatives in the
sector,” he says. CLA
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
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