On the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast is a small town that boasts a special kind of farmer, who for generations have farmed along the beautiful hills. This small town is Umkomaas and one of these farmers is Pat Govender. Pat has been planting STARKE AYRES beans for 20 years, the last couple of which included STAR 2054.
Pat planted the STAR 2054 bean variety from April 2020 to September 2020 – it provided very good quality yields and proved to be popular on the market. Pat said one of the added bonuses of the STAR 2054 is the outstanding vigor. This top-quality variety yields beans of superior standard from start to finish. STAR 2054 bean has exceptional yield potential in the fine bean category and has proven so in Umkomaas. Throughout the cooler temperatures in Umkomaas, especially in the mornings, the plants were resilient and produced flowers and pods from the first to the last pick. The variety also has high resistance to rust and halo blight. These attributes of STAR 2054 protected the plants during the early spring rain showers. The slow seed development and excellent gel retention makes this variety desirable in not-ideal conditions. For the legendary farmers of Umkomaas who nurture plants against the steep mountain hills, where no tractor can go, it is good to know that there is a variety of beans that makes a difference. STARKE AYRES looks forward to the next 20 years growing beans in Umkomaas and with Pat, who inspires fellow farmers in his region and is a beacon of hope and knowledge.
