Gerhard de Beer

With 140 years experience in the development, production and marketing of high yielding vegetable seed, our distribution network extends from its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, to 25 countries in Africa, and over 55 countries around the world. Starke Ayres is committed to research and innovation and is continually working to deliver new and improved vegetable varieties to fulfill the changing requirements of our clients. The company has breeding programmes in tomato, zucchini, butternut, pumpkin, beans, sweet corn, hubbard squash, scallops and onions. We not only use the most advanced techniques in our own laboratories, but ensure that we collaborate with international partners that do the same. Our objectives include yield potential, disease resistance, and seed quality. High quality control is our key differentiator. Our rigorous quality assurance programme ensures that the vegetable seed varieties we breed, produce and process are of the highest purity and germination capability. Today the company is the largest independent vegetable seed company in South Africa, supplying both the commercial and consumer markets. We are passionately committed to growth, innovation and superior customer service.