An introduction to SAGGA
and what we stand for.
Garlic, scientifically known as Allium sativum, is a distant cousin to chives and onions. Garlic originated in central Asia and has been cultivated since ancient times. Its medicinal properties played a key role in Ancient Egypt’s culture. During the time of the Pharaohs, when Egypt was at the peak of its power, garlic was given to the people who were building the great pyramids in order to increase their stamina and strength as well as to protect them from disease.
Garlic is arranged in a head, called the "bulb," averaging about 2 inches in height and diameter consisting of numerous small separate cloves. Both the cloves and the entire bulb are encased in paper-like sheathes that can be white, off-white or pinkish. Although garlic cloves have a firm texture, they can be easily cut or crushed. The taste of garlic is like no other – it hits the palate with a hot pungency that is shadowed by a very subtle background sweetness. While elephant garlic has larger cloves, it is more closely related to the leek and therefore does not offer the full health benefits of regular garlic.
The South African Garlic Growers Association as a producer’s organization was founded in 1991. The organization represents the majority of garlic growers in SA and its members are scattered all over South Africa.
South Africans consume about 4000 tons of garlic per annum – 40% are locally produced and 60% are imported. The aims of the South African Garlic Growers Association are:
- We are a body where garlic producers share common interests and problems.
- We strive to uplift the quality and quantity of locally produced garlic. Different mechanisms are in place to monitor quality of garlic on the market floor. We give advice to producers on how to improve quality of the product, packaging, etc.
- We strive to make consumers more aware of the different uses of garlic and in so doing, stimulate the sales of garlic nationally.
- We are ever busy with projects to improve the quality of local planting material at some of our research institutes.
- We have to protect the local industry from unfair competition in the form of dumped products.
