Forest Ferns markets all their products to the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and France. Forest Ferns is situated in the Tsitsikamma, Garden Route, South Africa and was established as a family business by Frans and Meg Ge**er in 1986. Initially only ferns were exported to the European flower markets, but over time the company diversified and today markets over 30 ferns, restios, grass
es and fynbos products to the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and France. Up to 10 tons of foliage is harvested weekly from natural stands and is packed for airfreighting to Europe and for delivery to Cape Town and Johannesburg based exporters. In 2004 Forest Ferns became the second flower company in South Africa to be awarded international status as a EurepGAP accredited production and export facility. This is a stringent quality assurance program that ensures good practices in terms of the production, conservation and sustainable harvesting of products, as well as the health, safety and welfare of the staff. In 2008 EurepGAP changed to the GlobalGAP system of accreditation. In 2006 the company was assessed for its compliance with Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment and achieved a 125% Level 2 accreditation under the generic score card for Small and Medium Business Enterprises.
