The DAC tobacco is typically grown on commercial tobacco farms, with ULSA also working with local communities, banks and agricultural support organisations to promote production by small scale growers.

ULSA does not have its own processing facility, but contracts with the only tobacco leaf processing facility in the country located at Rustenburg, for its processing needs.

The contract with commercial growers includes stringent conditions for sustainable production, and ULSA’s unique ‘study group’ forum for meeting with its contracted growers facilitates regular and comprehensive exchanges on good agricultural practices and good labour practices.

South Africa produces two types of traditional tobacco: 80% of the volume is Flue-Cured Virginia and 20% is Dark Air-Cured.