THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF FARM FAMILY BUSINESS - DECIDUOUS FRUIT FARMING IN SOUTH-AFRICA

This article examines farm family businesses within the context of Sou th African fruit farming by utilizing the ideal type proposed by Gasso n and Errington. It also examines another meaning the concept 'family' takes on within the South African context, that is, the conceptualiza tion by the owner-family and farm workers of 'the farm as family. This ideological construct is linked to historical events and subsequent i nstitutionalized arrangements surrounding the employment and utilizati on of wage labour, the most significant of which is the housing of wor kers on farm property. It is suggested that in order to accommodate th e South African case, 'family ideology' be included in an ideal type o f farm family business. The article also suggests that the ideology of 'the farm as family' and paternalistic practices could be eroded by f uture labour relations developments on fruit farms. This will have sig nificant consequences for the conceptualization of farm family busines ses. The analysis is based on data obtained by an extensive survey con ducted on the labour situation on South African fruit farms.