We are Blydevallei

Out of Hoedspruit’s deep brown soil, the first sign of blooming appears. A small white flower makes its way up towards the light blue sky. This, the commence of Blydevallei. In October 1993, Blydevallei bloomed out of the mind of Pieter Scholtz with a taste for citrus and a passion for farming.

As food production is essential for a sustainable world, our goal is to produce healthy and quality fruit produce for the South African, European, Asian, Middle Eastern and soon the North American markets. Blydevallei provides a full circle solution to the client, supplying them with mangoes, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and soft citrus. We strive towards high quality and exceptional service; therefore, our team is carefully picked to deliver top quality produce in international markets.

Blydevallei has its own fruit packing facility, Canyon Packers. Canyon Packers is situated on farm Driehoek, just over 30km from Hoedspruit town. The Packhouse uses the latest technology and follows the health and safety regulations to ensure the safety of our employees. The packing facility forms part of a very important process, getting the fruit from the fields into the hands of the consumer.

With the blessings we have received since 1993, we made it our mission to give back to the town and community. Blydevallei established a community school project that awards promising students full school bursaries as we believe everyone has the right to receive quality education. We are also shareholders in the agriculture training facility called the Hoedspruit Hub; which offers high quality and customised training in the development of skills that support livelihood strategies.

Vision

Blydevallei strives to add value to all the role players that form part of our diversified agricultural business. In achieving this, growth and profits are optimised to secure a sustainable business and lasting food supply for current stakeholders and future generations.

Mission

Blydevallei optimises and rewards the scares resources availability in the agricultural environment by:

  • Employing and rewarding the right people
  • Sound financial management is the base of our business
  • Applying good agriculture practice in harmony with nature
  • Keep in touch with the latest technology
  • Constant diversification is part of our daily strategic management to retain a competitive edge

Value & Ethics

Blydevallei is built on strong, honest business ethics and values. Long-term strategic partnerships with customers and suppliers are the cornerstone of our business as we live by the motto “make sure you don’t promise a client something that you cannot deliver”.

Our History

The planting of the seed

After 2 years of working in his own Veterinary Practice in the Eastern Suburbs of Pretoria, Dr. Pieter Scholtz decided he had enough of the city life and began his search for a farm in the Hoedspruit area. In August 1993 he sold his practice and a month later, he found a farm called Driekhoek for sale. He made a deal with the owner, Oom Pottie, to help with finance and bought his first farm.

Pieter had the idea of planting sweet potatoes and exporting it to various markets but required a steady income in order to get his dream off the ground, so he operated a veterinary practice from his farm.  In 1994, he began expanding his business to planting potatoes, butternut’s, tomatoes and gem squash. He set up his own mango tree nursery and planted his first citrus trees,  diversifying his business. Over the next few years, Pieter purchased all the adjacent land as it came onto the market to gradually expand his business with a specific focus on growing vegetables and expanding his citrus farming.

In April 2012, Pieter purchased Mariepskop Estate – the second largest mango farm in South Africa – from Westfalia. As part of the transaction, he bought 50% shares in Bavaria Packers, consisting of a mango drying plant and a citrus and mango packhouse.

Currently, Blydevallei produces mangoes and citrus. This fruit is sent to international destinations across the globe, including the UK, Europe, China, Korea, Japan, Middle East, Russia and the Baltics states.

His passion for wildlife never faded throughout the years, and in 2001 Blydevallei Game Breeders was established. The company is currently breeding with disease-free Buffalo, Nyalas and exotic game including Roan, Sable and Red Duiker.

Pieter is a partner in Brakrivier Bavaria, a 4500 ha game farm in the Musina area. In 2020 Pieter became the Project Coordinator and majority shareholder in Selebi Phikwe Citrus, a horticultural flagship in Botswana. Spanning across a 1,500-hectare property, Selebi Phikwe Citrus is being developed in two phases. Phase one commenced in November 2020 (888 hectares) and was completed in February 2024, with the commencement of the first harvest.

Pieter did not let his entrepreneur skills keep him to farming. In 2005, he established PS Properties, a property development company, and completed several projects along the years, including residential and commercial developments as well as in partnership with other shareholders, the new Hoedspruit Private Hospital.

Our Partnerships