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Welcome to Starke Ayres

At Starke Ayres, our goal is to help end hunger. It all starts with the highest quality seed, which is why we invest significant resources into researching and developing superior quality varieties that maximize yields for farmers.

WE ARE STARKE AYRES

Starke Ayres is the foremost African specialist and global supplier of premium vegetable, flower and lawn seed varieties – both for commercial and home garden planting. With over 140 years of experience, we are committed to doing ethical business and offering sustainable and innovative solutions to our customers.

SEED SUPPLIER TO THE WORLD

Founded in 1877 in South Africa, Starke Ayres currently has a sales-network footprint in more than 60 countries, across five continents, with ongoing plans for future expansion and innovation.

WE’RE IN BUSINESS TO FEED THE PLANET

Our motivation at Starke Ayres is to feed the planet. We focus on breeding the highest-yielding vegetables, which makes our seed the most cost-efficient and the finest quality for all farmers. Starke Ayres seeds are ISTA accredited, proudly non-GMO, and we ensure our seeds are available to all farmers, big and small. Our home gardening range is also available at any major retail outlet.

A natural extension of this is our commitment to ESG initiatives that improve food security. To help develop and support our farmers and communities in South Africa, Starke Ayres has partnered with Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) by committing to supply FTFA with seed required to improve food security, as well as supporting their Community Tree Planting initiative with 145 trees in celebrating Starke Ayres turning 145 years old.

Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) is a leading Section 21 Non-Profit Organisation that addresses food security, environmental sustainability, and greening. They have a large and diverse programme portfolio, including Community Market Gardens, FEED Africa (Farmer Development), Community Tree Planting, School Gardening, The EduPlant Programme, and many more.

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OUR HABITAT IS OUR HOME

In 2016, Starke Ayres established an owl-breeding programme on its farm that uses these birds of prey, instead of chemically hazardous methods, to help keep pests at bay. The programme has proved to be so successful that it has expanded to five of Starke Ayres’ farms in South Africa.

About SA 1
About us
Starke Ayres is the largest independent vegetable seed company in South Africa, supplying both the commercial and consumer markets. It employs more than 250 staff and is committed to growth, innovation and superior customer service.Read More on this
Commercial farming 1
Seed varieties for the farming professional
We are the leading supplier of high quality varieties of commercial vegetable seeds for professional growers all over the world. Our state-of-the-art research facilities assist with the constant advantage of ensuring that our seed varieties always deliver success. Read More on this
Home Gardening 1
Seed varieties for the home gardener
We supply only premium quality seeds and products, whether growing vegetables and herbs for your kitchen or adding some colour to your flower garden. The cultivation process is easy and fun with our seed varieties and extensive garden care products. Read More on this

Most recent news

Blog | 14 November 2024
Why November is the Perfect Time to Plant Your Pumpkin Seeds
November is ideal for planting pumpkins! Discover why this month gives pumpkin seeds the perfect start and how to maximize your harvest with Starke Ayres seeds.Read more on this
31 October 2024
Late planting Test of Zandra pays dividends in Botswana
Star & Liz is a farm located in Medie, about 90 kilometres from Gaborone, Botswana. Tomatoes are an important crop and many different varieties have been tested at various times...Read more on this
Tomato | 22 October 2024
Strong performance from determinate Saladette Tomato STAR 9068
Meet Lloyd Sivhangi, a tomato farmer from Vuvani in the Limpopo province. He produces vegetables for the informal market and his produce is much in demand. Tomatoes are an impor...Read more on this