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Record 700 Entries Celebrate South Africa's Heritage and Innovation at 2026 Preserve Championships
The second South African Preserve Championships, presented by Agri-Expo, attracted a record 700 entries from 85 producers, setting a new benchmark for the competition when judging took place at Eensgezind, outside Durbanville, on Wednesday, 29 July.

A panel of 61 expert judges assessed this year's entries across more than 100 classes, ranging from traditional jams, marmalades, chutneys and pickles to pesto, olives and an array of innovative preserved products.

Record Growth Reflects Rising Industry Confidence

"The record number of entries shows the confidence producers have in these championships," says Breyton Milford, General Manager of Agri-Expo. "We are particularly proud of the significant increase from last year's 456 entries."

He says the growth demonstrates that the championships provide an important platform for both established and emerging producers to benchmark their products against the highest industry standards while strengthening consumer confidence in South African preserves.

Agri-Expo, which celebrates its 195th anniversary as an agricultural society this year, launched the championships in 2025 to recognise exceptional quality, support entrepreneurs and promote the art of food preservation.

Expert Judging Ensures Credibility

According to Agri-Expo President Chris Fourie, the success of the championships lies not only in the record number of entries but also in the quality and integrity of the judging process.

"The expertise of our judges underpins the credibility of these championships. With five judges evaluating every product, producers can be confident that each entry is judged fairly, independently and consistently."

All entries were judged blind by a diverse panel of experts representing the food, hospitality, retail and agricultural sectors.

Tradition Meets Innovation

The judging panel praised the exceptional quality of both traditional preserves and innovative products featuring unexpected flavour combinations inspired by contemporary food trends.

"What impressed me most is that the traditional products are competing at the same high level as the newer creations," says chief judge Susina Jooste, renowned food expert and training specialist.
"We've seen products that take you straight back to your grandmother's kitchen – one judge even said that one of the peach preserves brought tears to her eyes – alongside bold new creations that reflect fresh thinking, such as green olives stuffed with cashew nuts, dried salted olives, spekboom chutney and pickled jalapeños in sweet syrup."

Jooste says this year's entries confirm there is strong demand for both familiar, heritage flavours and adventurous new taste experiences.

Celebrating South Africa's Culinary Heritage

"Preserves are about far more than what's on a supermarket shelf. They tell the story of the people behind them," says Fourie.

"For some, making preserves began out of necessity as a way of earning an income. For others, it became an opportunity to add value to fresh produce or turn a passion into a thriving business. Over generations, South Africa's diverse communities have contributed their own recipes, flavours and traditions. Today, we celebrate that rich culinary heritage, as well as the producers and manufacturers who continue to innovate and strive for excellence."

Fourie also acknowledged the support of the wider agricultural industry, thanking championship partners ClemenGold, Ardagh Glass Packaging–Africa, Hollard, Ecowize and SA Olive.

The winners of the 2026 South African Preserve Championships will be announced at Eensgezind on 27 August 2026, after which the full results will be made available on the championships website.