Fruit marketer helps future scientists
Tru-Cape makes a donation for pupils at Cape Eskom Expo
TRU-CAPE is doing its bit for the next generation of scientists who are tackling issues such as drought relief and renewable energy. Tru-Cape is the largest exporter of apples and pears to 104 countries. On Friday it announced it had contributed more than 1 200 apples to the Western Cape Eskom Expo, held last month. The expo attracted more than 732 entrants this year.
Conrad Fick, Tru-Cape’s marketing director, said the company’s support for this event was in line with its commitment to supporting information sharing and quality science education.
“Tru-Cape and our growers know that food security is something which requires the most up-to-date scientific thinking and knowledge, and Tru-Cape applauds initiatives such as this one that encourages and rewards the next generation of scientists,” Fick said.
Apart from the opportunity to meet other pupils from schools throughout the Cape, exhibitors from the Department of Water Affairs, and organisations such as UCT’s Chemistry Department and the Centre for High Performance Computing gave pupils insight into careers in science.
Project questions posed at the expo included: “which grey water is best for plant growth?” “Wind vs solar power: which is more effective in producing sustainable energy?” “How can we increase soil absorbency?” and “how can we monitor and reduce water flow rate?”
There were also projects that dealt with food security, water conservation and techniques for preventing evaporation and water wastage.
Luke Smith, a Grade 10 pupil from Rondebosch Boys High, said: “doing the research for a project, you see the numbers, which show you how bad the situation actually is. “And when you understand that, you find solutions.”
Hussein Semvua and Zainul Africa came up with The Green Tap, a grey-water system that collects water as it drains from the basin and pumps it to the toilet cistern to flush the toilet.
The award for the best primary school project, A Grey-t Way to Save Water, went to Alex Marshall, a Grade 6 pupil from the International School of Cape Town.
Tru-Cape also announced last week, that it had donated fruit to the Rotary Health Days held last month, in support of the Macassar community.
According to Casper Kruger, the president for District 9350 Rotary Helderberg Sunrise Club, the event was the fifth that Rotary Helderberg had facilitated together with health-care professionals who volunteered their time.
The event included screening tests for vision, HIV, Pap smears and breast examinations and other pre-emptive screenings to check blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure. These services were free, Kruger said. Tru-Cape donated nine cartons of fruit to the event so that healthy refreshments could be offered.
Fick said Tru-Cape supported events that were community-based, encourage a healthy lifestyle, and are held in areas where Tru-Cape growers and staff live.
“Community service organisations such as Rotary and Lions make a huge difference to the people and groups they support, and Tru-Cape applauds them for their generous contribution.”