The South African Nursery Association (SANA) has played an integral role in the country’s agricultural and nursery sector since its inception in 1947.

It was formed to facilitate a network between stakeholders in the so-called green industry.

Members of his 75-year-old non-profit organisation gather at least twice a year host their Autumn Trade Fair and their Spring Trade Fair respectively, where suppliers big and small can network with retailers, landscapers and everyone else with an interest in agriculture and gardening, display their products, and discuss current and future projects.

We haven’t had the opportunity to host the events over the past two years due to Covid-19,” Gerdie Olivier, SANA Operational Manager explained.

“We had a premises in Knoppieslaagte which we sold recently because of all the break-ins we had. We’ve now rented here at Khosa Sports Club and decided to have the big fair here for our members, so that they could come together.

“We’re all about networking, so the members want to get together and talk. A plant is a visual thing to sell, and that’s where the fair really helps; you can see the product and buy it off the stand.”

On Wednesday, March 2, a total of 77 exhibitors with 172 stands between them set up their exhibitions outside or in the marquee tent, and the event was filled to 93,1% of its capacity for the day. It attracted about 800 visitors, all in the trade themselves. The event wasn’t open to the public.

Gerdie added that, “Our Spring Show has about 120 exhibitors. It’s a big show of what our members plant and grow, and the other products they sell such as pots, potting soil, compost mixes and seeds.”

SANA uses the proceeds of the trade fairs for their regular operations and to cover the costs of the event.

Paul Vonk, SANA’s president explained that because people could not leave their homes as much during the Covid-19 surge, many took to gardening and found a love for it.

Food gardening increased globally. The government sent everybody home, they stepped into their gardens and went ‘oh my goodness, this is terrible. I’m going to a garden centre’. And they wanted food! Some for fun and other people to save money. Anything that you could eat flew off the shelf. There was a food garden explosion.”

It seems that the industry hopes this trend will continue, and exhibitors at the trade fair were all too happy to show their ware to visitors.