In South Africa Avocados Are Guarded With Private Security Units

Flashing green-and-white lights illuminated the night as the three private security vehicles rolled into the gated orchard, breaking the dark stillness enveloping the farm in northern South Africa.

Long shadows fell over the moonlit tracks as the pickup trucks rolled past hundreds of neatly-lined avocado trees, their branches laden with plump dark-green fruit almost ready for harvesting.

Patrol leader Marius Jacobs squinted over the steering wheel, dragging on a cigarette as he scanned the plantation for thieves.

Farmers around the quiet tropical town of Tzaneen are battling a scourge of avocado theft driven by booming global demand for the nutrient-rich fruit.

Thousands of tonnes of avocados have been stolen over the past five years, according to the South African Subtropical Growers’ Association.

The average annual losses in South Africa, one of the continent’s top avocado producers, is around 24 million rand ($1.6 million).

“It’s getting more and more, and it’s bakkie (truck) loads,” said Jacobs, 34, popping open a can of energy drink.

“This is not because somebody is hungry, this is a syndicate operating,” he added.

“Avo is green gold.”

Faced with increasingly frequent raids, farmers have invested heavily in fencing and private security.

Jacobs and his team, backed by dogs, now patrol more than 20 mostly avocado farms per night, complementing over 150 guards manning orchards on foot.

Gangs caught red-handed are handed over to the police.

“This is where we caught a (minibus) fully loaded with avos,” recalled guard manager Manuel Malatjie, 28, pointing to the spot of a recently-thwarted raid.

“We are trying our best (but) it’s getting bad.”

– Tonnes stolen –

The sound of clipping filled the air as workers snipped high-hanging avocados with picking sticks, filling as many bags as possible before the midday heat.

March marks the start of South Africa’s avocado harvest season, and the run-up is a prime time for theft.