Woolworths help young farmers grow at Meyerton learning farm
A new partnership between Woolworths and HarvestFresh is equipping the next generation of farmers with practical skills in regenerative agriculture.
MEYERTON – Woolworths has partnered with fresh produce supplier HarvestFresh to provide final-year agriculture students with practical farming skills at a new Living Soils Community Learning Farm on a farm near Meyerton.
The Gauteng expansion builds on the success of the Living Soils programme launched seven years ago in Stellenbosch in partnership with Spier and the Sustainability Institute. The initiative provides emerging farmers, particularly women, with hands-on training in regenerative farming methods while preparing them for careers in agriculture and farm management.
HarvestFresh has allocated three hectares of land on its Meyerton farm for the programme, where 17 interns – including 10 young women – have enrolled for the 12-month course. Together with the Stellenbosch intake, the programme now has 37 interns, almost double last year’s total.
According to Statistics South Africa’s first-quarter 2026 employment figures, unemployment among people aged 15 to 24 stands at 60,9%, highlighting the importance of initiatives that create employment opportunities and develop practical skills.
The programme combines classroom learning, leadership development and field experience, exposing students to the full fresh produce value chain. Interns will gain practical experience in farm production, food safety, quality assurance, traceability, distribution and retail, while also working in HarvestFresh’s commercial nursery, hydroponic operations, packhouse and high-care processing facility.
Joy Lange, General Manager of Woolworths’ Community Inclusive Justice Institute, said the expansion marks an important milestone for Living Soils and supports the retailer’s Farming for the Future sustainability programme, which promotes soil health, biodiversity and responsible land management.
HarvestFresh Managing Director George Maxted said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to sustainable agriculture and investing in young people. He said the programme combines regenerative farming techniques with practical experience to create real employment pathways while contributing to stronger communities and South Africa’s long-term food security.
