SA's favourite relishes produced in the heart of the Letsitele Valley

If you think holiday or snacks before a braai, chances are good that crunchy and fresh cocktail-sized gherkins pickled in a sweet and tangy-flavoured vinegar brine are on the menu.

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These gherkins, and many of the other products produced by Miami Canners, are perfect for summer platters, salads, or sandwiches. Magda du Toit visited the Pieterse family on their farm, Miami, near Letsitele, recently to find out the secret behind the success of this family-owned and farm-based business.

Nothing beats the smell and taste of braaivleis, and most people will agree that one of the perfect dishes to be served at a braai is pap with a flavourful sheba or relish. Miami Canners caters to these, as well as many other preferences and tastes of South Africans.

After more than four decades in business, Miami Canners has established itself as a trusted household brand and can be found on the shelves of most of the large retailers throughout South Africa as well as in neighbouring countries.

HISTORY

The farm Miami received its name when foreign officials were commissioned to survey an area adjacent to the Letaba River in the 1900s. Some of these officials were from the US, and when naming farms and areas, chose names that were familiar to them.

In the early 1970s, the late Jan Welthagen established himself on one of the farms, called Miami, and wanting to add value to fruit farming in the area, started making fruit preserves. The family founded the business in 1983, and by 1984, Miami Canners was in full production.

The success of the early products led to the expansion of both the product variety grown on the farm, as well as the building of a new factory in 1990 with modern equipment, up-to-the date technology and research facilities.