A legendary figure in the fruit industry, Koos Lötter, passed away on 29 October 2019 in Stellenbosch, at the age of 92 years old.

The Department of Horticultural Science at Stellenbosch University expressed its sympathies towards Lötter's family and friends. In a statement, the Department's chair, Dr Lynn Hoffman, said: “He will surely be missed for his zest for life in general, but also in particular for his passion for horticulture. His place as a long-standing friend and valued colleague over many years will now be empty. His memory lives on in the minds and memories of all the students that he inspired and mentored throughout his lifetime. Many became prominent and influential horticulturists themselves."

Lötter was fondly known in industry circles as “Oom Koos". He graduated in 1951 with a degree in Pomology from the Department of Horticultural Science at Stellenbosch University. In 1968 he returned to the Department as a lecturer, where he spent 23 productive years until his retirement in 1991.

Earlier this year, Lötter received an award from the deciduous fruit industry and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture for his contribution to South Africa's horticultural industry. Special mention was made of his work towards promoting the production of alternative crops. This ranged from guava, figs, kiwis, persimmons to loquat and quinces, and more recently also pomegranates.

He contributed towards the use of wooden pallets for the harvesting of deciduous fruit. Lötter was also a founder member of the South African Society for Horticultural Sciences (SASHS) in 1989.

More recently, he penned a widely read book and grower's manual about fig production in South Africa.  The first print run of the Afrikaans version, “Die Vy in Suid-Afrika" was sold out soon after release. It has since been reprinted, along with an English version thanks to support from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture.

Lötter believed in good time management along with proper planning, and that it allowed for success and productivity. He once commented that it was impossible to be bored because there were simply too many good books that still needed to be read.

“'He valued and practiced the skill of scientific writing and communication throughout his career, setting an example for many in the industry," Hoffman remembers. “He also once commented that 'all, in life, even in agriculture, is about people. Without people nothing can work'. His wide network of friends and colleagues attest to that.