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Purists will tell you that the Route 62 does not start in Roberston,as technically it’s the R60 through Roberston, but what the hell, we are not going to worry about technicalities: this is where we are starting this wonderful fruit route. It is a route renown for its huge diversity of fruits, for example, to name a few: Sharon fruits from Swellendam, the South AfrIcan capital of apricots along the route, and the spectacular sight of tray upon tray of fruit drying in the sun, and so on.
The R60 starts on the way from Worcester to Roberston past an interesting little farmstall in an olive grove, with a gum tree surrounded by dozens of orange pumpkins around its base. Yes they sell pumpkins!
Nuy Valley
The Nuy valley experiences a Mediterranean type climate of a long, hot summer and a short, cold winter.
Willow Creek Estate is tucked away at the foot of the Langeberg mountains in the stunning Nuy Valley in the Western Cape. This farms boasts 220 hectares planted with 163 000 olive trees and is one of the largest estate olive oil producers in the Southern Hemisphere. Willow Creek also has an olive Nursery and the nursery aims to produce the best olive trees in SA. They use disease free, vigorous style plant material from fruiting wood for propagation. The nursery is run very professionally and cuttings are propagated in hotbeds with sterile propagation media and are monitored daily for disease and pests. Willow Creek also has a great range of oils and other products sold from the farm, and a visit is well worthwhile.
Tierhoek Organic
Is situated in the Noree Valley near to Robertson , and they strive to produce products which are completely natural: using no sulphur, or preservatives: resulting in just healthy, delicious products full of natural goodness.
Olyfberg is an International award winning olive oil produced on a farm on the Breede River in Robertson, and is a must to buy from any of the shops in the area, being reasonably priced, and of outstanding quality.
Robertson has a large number of cellars, co-operatives and private estates, and the region produces many winning wines. Travelling through the town, it is apparent that in fact there are more fruit trees orchards than vineyards: this is fruit territory. It’s a really quaint town with many diverse attractions, from a lazy river cruise to mountain hiking, very friendly wine farms with outdoor picnics and beautiful scenery.
FARM STALLS
Proudly Afrikaans, the farm stall on the outskirts of the town called Affie Plaas has a wide array of products including fresh pomegranate juice, a product not readily found anywhere. Affie Plaas carries season products like hanepoot grapes, cling peaches, waterblommetjies, rusks, fruit rolls, fruit juices, fruit teas and an assortment of jams ( fig, quince, gooseberry, moskonfyt)
Other fresh produce buying opportunities can be found at the Robertson Farmers' Market, last Saturday of each month at the information center and the The Organic Box, in Robertson.
Bonnievale
Bonnievale is a great little town on the Breede River with many wineries and fruit farms. Farmers have taken special care to plant their perimeters with flowers like cannas and roses, making them a spectacular place to see in summer months.
Bonnievale is one of the few places where Sharon fruit, also called persimmons, are grown, and along with Swellendam is the place where Swellenfruit has a packhouse for this unique fruit. Also found in Bonnievale are figs, pomegranates, peaches, apricots, naartjies, plums and nectarines.
Its worth stopping at Mooivallei Siuwel and the Parmalat factoy shops in Bonnievale for some diary products such as cheeses and yogurts.
Montagu
Montagu is the gateway to the Little Karoo and also the scenic heart of Route 62. This historic link between Cape Town, Oudtshoorn, the Garden Route and the Eastern Cape starts with a spectacular cutting in the mountains, where the rock formations are to be seen to be believed. Best to stop along the roadside and admire them close up!
This peaceful town is has a lot of history and is well known for its fruit orchards, vineyards, dried fruit,local herbs and healing hot mineral springs.
Kloof Padstal
This is a yummy place to stop for some of the best products that Montagu has to offer, be it dried fruit, jams or preserves and rusks. A good variety of gifts are to be found, and for the hungry there is no better place to satisfy that hunger.
Montagu Dried Fruit and Nuts
A landmark in Montagu, this is really worth a visit, and dried fruit is the cheapest you can find. Mountains of pips are to be seen, which are sold for driveway surfaces: an excellent eco- option for you!
On the way to Barrydale Octavia fruits are growing figs for preserves, fresh and drying purposes. And further down the road Locarno dried Fruit Sales offer a host of interesting products of their own.
Tradouw Vrugtepakkers, who are opposite the Akkerboom Trading Post also make a variety of interesting fruit products including the magnificent juice called Oaklands 100% pure pear juice and apple juice.
Barrydale
Barrydale is in the Tradouw valley of the Langeberge, where the northern exit of the Tradouws Pass meets the R62 from Worcester. The annual rainfall of Barrydale is 300mm and together with this, it seems as if the sun is always shining and temperatures of 35C or even higher is very common in the middle of summer. During the afternoons, cool coastal breezes temper the heat and make the evenings pleasant. This makes Barrydale a good area for fruit, and drying fruit!
The fruit harvesting season starts mid December and carries on until March, bringing with it an abundance of sun-ripened peaches, apricots, plums, apples and grapes, that is exported under the Cape Fruit label.
In town a variety of places are worth a visit: The Country Pumpkin, The Old Trading Post and Clarke of the Karoo, an eatery claiming to have been judged amongst the top 10 restaurants in the Little Karoo.
A stretch from Barrydale to Ladismith gets dryer and the orchards become fewer, but the scenery is spectacular. A stop at Ronnies shop is a must, just to see how one word can change everything for a place that was nothing special before the addition of the three letter word: sex. Klipdrift have added their own effects to the wall, naming it a pompstasie now, too.
Ladismith
Ladismith serves as an extensive farming area with ideal climate for the production of quality fruit apricots, peaches, plums, nectarines and grapes. Ladismith produces a third of South Africas apricots! These apricots are not immediately eveident and can be seen by driving through the beautiful Hoeko Valley, where there are breathtaking views of the orchards along the side of the mountain.
In Ladismith itself, the Olive Garden is worth a visit, for some interesting nick nacks, cheeses and figs, and a must stop is the cheese factory Ladismith Kaas, for some bargains, and fantastic cheeses.
For some cozy farm stays in the orchards, the Eagles Nest is found right amongst the apricot orchards, as well as Ladismith Country House.
Travelling further along the Route 62, through the Huis River pass, there are striking rock formations and strata to be seen along the way.
Calitzdorp
The town enjoys a mild climate, especially in winter, and its mineral rich spring waters are a great attraction.
The climate is less suited for fruit production and clearly fruit takes a backseat and wine assumes higher priorities. Here you can visit the five wine cellars on the wine route: Boplaas, Die Krans, Calitzdorp Winery , Axe Hill and Withoek, which produce a variety of red, white and dessert wines as well as the famous port for which Calitzdorp is world-renowned. So a stop at any of these wineries is a rewarding experience.
Oudtshoorn
Oudtshoorn is the ostrich capital of the world. Alas little fruit is to be seen, but being part of the route, enjoy an ostrich ride, visit the caves and stop at a few of their wineries.
This is a fine wine-producing region, with a variety of cultivars growing well in the area. There are seventeen local wineries to choose from to taste and buy award winning wines ports and sherries.
De Rust
De Rust's most renowned attraction is Meiringspoort, an incredible passageway of towering red cliffs that pierce through the heart of the Swartberg Mountains.
a Victorian Village flanked by the Swartberg Mountains. Home to blueblood ostriches, golden vineyards, sundrenched orchards and spectacular displays of the rare pelargoniums from which geraniums emanated.
Prince Albert
The village itself is a small gem, with beautifully preserved Cape Dutch, Karoo and Victorian buildings. Prince Albert is known for its sun-ripened fresh and dried fruit, especially figs and apricots. Karoo lamb, olives, olive oil and homemade cheeses are local delicacies.
Langkloof
The Langkloof extends beyond Oudtshoorn, and is a long valley well respected for its fruit. Mainly deciduous and stonefruit is grown here. But it is a little too far south for citrus. The majestic mountains cradle the valley and along the way Formosa Peak is to be seen(1675m), being the highest point in the Tsitsikamma mountains.
The Langkloof Fruit Route which , lies between the Tsitsikamma and Kouga Mountains, has the towns of Uniondale, Misgund, Krakeel and Kareedouw, with the latter more well known for its furniture than its fruit. A festive time to visit the Langkloof is August, when the fruit blossoms are out on the tree. This is a very memorable and fragrant experience, however any time of the year will impress a visitor to the area, as it is very scenic and restful. In addition to fruit farming, this is the endemic area of honeybush tea, and the Honeybush tea industry finds its roots in the Langkloof.
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