27/11/2024
HOWBILL
OUR GROWING TIMELINE
1940’s
When Howard Gibson returned to Ceres after serving as a pilot in World War II. He started out as an owner of a fish café. Through his entrepreneurial spirit he grew an agricultural business with several farms in the Ceres area.
1952
Howard bought Parys, a fruit farm in the Koue Bokkeveld. The first harvest consisted of 40 old fashioned wooden lug boxes of Granny Smith and 50 boxes of White Winter Permain apples.
1969
Howard’s eldest son, Raymond Gibson, returned from military service to start farming full time.
1970’s
The Gibson assets were extended with the purchase of several farms. In 1979 the packhouse was built and the company, Howbill Properties, was established – the name is derived from HOWard and his wife SyBILL’s names.
1982-1990
Howard passed away, leaving his business to his three sons, Raymond, William and George, who later split the business into three parts. The eldest son, Raymond, took possession of Howbill Properties with the farms Parys and Panorama.
1990-2000’s
Howbill kept expanding, adding several farms in the area to their operation as well as extending the packhouse and cold room facilities. Lilian, one of Raymond’s daughters, joined the business in 1999.
2018
Raymond passed over the reigns to his son-in-law, Daniel Goosen. Daniel, together with his wife Lilian, are focused on taking Howbill into the future.
2023
Identifying the need of the customer to be closer to the supplier, Howbill and Doornkraal banded together to create Zonnehaven. A grower/exporter company which aims to provide the finest fruit to local and international markets.
