The life cycle of a product has four distinctive stages; Introduction, growth, maturity and decline.  During each of these stages the marketing costs of promoting the product declines (see Figure below).  This is because more and more people start to know the name of the product.  Each phase of the life cycle will be discussed [...]

The horticultural industry is a complicated network of intensive businesses that all seek to obtain a slice of the horticultural pie. The South African agricultural business sector is highly competitive and diversified. A simple graphical layout of the businesses that play a significant role in the horticultural industry is presented in the figure below. Each [...]

Marketing of the final product is a complex dynamic as it evolves over time. Not all buyers will stay in business and most of them will change their buying patterns to suit their own market needs. So many growers have told me that growing is easy, it is the marketing that is so difficult. If [...]

The common tomato or scientifically classified as Solanaceae Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L) Karst. ex Farw. is one of the most popular vegetables planted both by commercial farmers, small scale farmers and home gardeners.  It is actually a pleasure to grow tomatoes as there are so many varieties available today that marketing opportunities are abundant.  For the [...]