Market Demand Fruits | Citrus Industry
Market Demand Fruits, a niche citrus export compaby based in Paarl, Western Cape, is seeking an experienced and technically skilled Technical Advisor to provide expert technical advice and guidance to citrus producers. The successful candidate will play an important role in supporting sustained optimal yields, high fruit quality and effective alignment between producers, exporters and packhouses.
The opportunity
This is a hands-on technical role suited to someone with strong citrus production experience who enjoys working directly with producers, spending time in orchards and packhouses, and translating technical knowledge into practical improvements.
The Technical Advisor will be responsible for providing guidance across irrigation, pruning, chemical management, integrated pest management (IPM), crop estimates, fruit quality, new orchard establishment and cultivar development.
Key responsibilities
- Provide technical advice to citrus producers on production practices and orchard performance.
- Advise on irrigation management, including maintaining and digitising irrigation records.
- Provide guidance and training on pruning practices and cultivar-specific requirements.
- Advise producers on chemical management, spray programmes and IPM, including scouting and disease management.
- Monitor fruit development, fruit set, pests, diseases and quality, and advise on appropriate corrective actions.
- Provide technical input to Marketing regarding fruit quality, defects, spray programme compliance and appropriate markets.
- Monitor seasonal production trends and communicate relevant information and recommendations to producers.
- Prepare and distribute regular technical reports and provide technical input at management meetings.
- Coordinate producer field days, including topics, training and presenters.
- Provide advice on new orchard establishment, including orchard design, cultivars, irrigation and planting.
- Oversee chemical and internal fruit sample management and support decisions regarding the release of orchard blocks for harvesting.
- Conduct crop estimates, including production volumes and expected fruit size, and maintain estimates throughout the season.
- Identify, evaluate and support the introduction and trialling of new citrus cultivars.
- Conduct regular packhouse inspections and provide feedback to producers on fruit quality and defects.
- Oversee nursery performance and relevant plant material protocols.
Minimum requirements
- Agricultural degree
- Minimum 5 years' relevant experience; 10 years would be advantageous.
- Relevant experience in technical citrus production.
- Practical experience working on a farm or as a technical coordinator within a citrus company.
- Strong knowledge of:
- Citrus production and horticulture
- Irrigation, pruning and fertilisation
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
- Scouting and disease management
- Chemical management and spray programmes
- Food safety standards, systems and audits
- Citrus packhouse operations
The ideal candidate
We are looking for someone who:
- Has excellent people and communication skills.
- Is practical, solutions-oriented and enjoys working with producers.
- Has a strong quality focus and strives for zero defects relating to pests and disease.
- Has excellent attention to detail and strong administrative skills.
- Is able to analyse problems and provide practical solutions.
- Is energetic, self-motivated and comfortable working in orchards and packhouses.
- Is willing to travel long distances and spend significant time in the field.
- Can work effectively with producers, packhouses, Marketing and internal technical teams.
Why this role?
This is an opportunity to make a meaningful technical contribution across the citrus production value chain, working closely with producers to improve yield, fruit quality, compliance and production performance, while contributing to cultivar development and longer-term production strategies.
Please send your CV to [email protected] by 4 September 2026 to apply.
If we have not responded to you within two weeks after the closing date, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Pay: From R35 000,00 per month
Work Location: In person
