South African Subtropical Growers’ Association (Subtrop)

The South African Subtropical Growers’ Association (Subtrop) is the industry body representing the country’s avocado, mango and litchi growers. Subtrop is based in Tzaneen, Limpopo, one of South Africa’s key subtropical fruit-growing regions.

Registered name

South African Subtropical Growers’ Association (Subtrop)

Type

Industry association (avocado, mango and litchi growers)

Fields funded

BSc Agriculture majoring in agricultural economics or horticultural science

Website

subtrop.co.za

Email

delane@subtrop.co.za

An umbrella for three fruits

As an umbrella organisation, Subtrop manages and supports three affiliated commodity groups: avocado, mango and litchi growers. Subtrop’s members range from smallholder farmers to large commercial operations, and levies on both local and export sales fund its work. Subtrop coordinates research, market access, promotion, grower support and advocacy across the main production areas.

Subtrop is a member of Fruit South Africa and works closely with service providers such as the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB), which inspects fruit exports, and SIZA, the ethical and environmental audit programme for South African agriculture.

Why subtropical fruit needs specialists

Subtropical fruit is demanding to grow and export. Avocados must be picked at the right oil content, cooled carefully and shipped for weeks without ripening too early, while mangoes and litchis face pests, diseases and strict phytosanitary rules in export markets. Growers therefore depend on horticulturists who understand orchards and post-harvest handling, and agricultural economists who understand markets and costs.

Who Dr Lindsey Milne was

Subtrop named the Lindsey Milne Bursary Scheme after Dr D.L. Milne in honour of his vast and selfless contributions to the subtropical fruit industry. Subtrop is the donor of the scheme’s funds.

The Lindsey Milne bursary

The Lindsey Milne bursary funds BSc Agriculture students majoring in agricultural economics or horticultural science, training specialists who then work for Subtrop for a period after graduating. Applicants must be South African citizens with good academic records, studying or accepted for a qualifying agriculture degree.

Subtrop’s bursaries page shows the Lindsey Milne bursary open, closing on 31 October 2026, and applicants download the application form from that page.

How to research Subtrop

Read about Subtrop’s research programmes and choose a topic such as post-harvest quality or orchard management to discuss in your application. Students from Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal can ask subtropical fruit farms about vacation work. Ask Subtrop how long the work-back lasts and where graduates are placed.

See the Westfalia Fruit bursary for an avocado producer’s scheme.