Our Companies
Exception Limited- Buckville Road
Arie van der Houwen first established Exception Limited in 2000. Exception Limited, on Buckville Road is set on a plot of approximately 2.5 hectares with covered glasshouses operation. Ben Winkelaar has been the glasshouse manager since 2018. This plant employs between 25 and 30 staff, depending on the season.
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Passion Fresh Limited- Harrisville Road
The success of Exception motivated Arie to establish Passion Fresh Limited. Spread over approximately 3 hectares, on what used to be a kiwi orchard, Arie’s concept of establishing of -the-art glasshouses with automated machinery equipment was realized with the opening of Passion Fresh in 2014. This establishment employs between 25 and 40 staff, depending on seasons. Both companies are privately owned and operated businesses.
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Our key operating initiative is to pay high regard of importance and respect when considering both people and the environment.
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We are a people focused company, continually drawing from the inspiration and dedication of our teams.
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Our cucumbers are grown in automated climate-controlled glasshouses, using sustainable and effective growing techniques, incorporating the leading edge of pest control Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the process.
Environment, Sustainability and Biotechnology
The cucumber plants are grown under glass in an organic growing medium, known as Perlite which is a naturally occurring volcanic mineral that has a relatively high-water content.
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The advantage of the IPM programme is to reduce the usage of pesticides and fungicides an absolute minimum. IPM uses natural controls rather than chemical interventions. This system underlies the fact that insect pests have their own natural predators and parasites, and these beneficial insects are identified and introduced into the crops in order to keep away harmful bugs.
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All of our wastewater (drainage) is recycled.
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Working with the latest technological advances adds to minimising the use of energy distribution; being both natural gas and power.
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Our glasshouses are all controlled by leading edge computerised climate-controlled systems (which monitors efficiencies relating to watering, CO2 enrichment, respiration, heat transfer, ventilation, nutrients, and heating pipes).
Packhouse
Our packing and grading facilities function on modernized, customised systems. The benefits of operating with these machinery and equipment ensures minimal handling and high-quality control standards. The business model is built with the objective of meeting all modern requirements for food safety.
All House of Taste Telegraph cucumbers are wrapped in RECYCLABLE plastic. Wrapping the fruit prolongs the freshness of the fruit. If unwrapped, the cucumbers generally can perish within 2 days as the skin is porous. The wrapping also ensures hygienic produce and is fresh from picking to your plate. The fruit is handled at least 9 times (from pick, packing, distribution to the consumers. This reduces any further risks multiple handling. The cucumber skin can easily tear and get bruised; hence compromising the integrity of the fruit and allowing bacteria to set in.
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PS. Please dispose of the packaging sensibly so as not to cause harm to our sea life; and not forgetting, our environment.