In this episode, hosts Dewald Kirsten and Louise Brodie sit down with Marco Bertolazzi, Director of Research & Development at global fresh produce brand SanLucar, for a deep and inspiring conversation about fruit innovation, global agriculture, and building a premium brand that’s reshaping how consumers experience fruit.
From his humble roots in Italy and a life-changing international horticulture degree, to managing cutting-edge varietal development across multiple continents, Marco shares his unique journey into agriculture and his passion for creating more sustainable and flavorful produce. He opens up about how SanLucar works across the globe—from breeding strategies and master grower partnerships, to the ambitious branding vision of “premium across all fruits.”
They also explore why SanLucar is investing in South Africa’s strawberry and kiwi potential, and how the company is aligning sustainability with commercial success.
🎧 Whether you're in farming, retail, branding or just love good fruit—this is a masterclass in fresh produce innovation.
Key Takeaways:
•How Marco’s international education and passion for agriculture shaped his career
•The inner workings of SanLucar’s global varietal strategy and grower partnerships
•Why strawberries are one of the most technical and versatile crops in the world
•How SanLucar plans to expand its premium fresh produce brand into retail corners globally
•The role of sustainability—economic, environmental, and social—in modern fruit production
•What brought SanLucar to explore South Africa’s production opportunities
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