18 October 2024
Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets across South Africa hosted over 60 community food gardens for Market Day, giving them the opportunity to sell their fresh produce directly to the public on Thursday 17 October 2024.
The supermarkets’ initiative gives community food gardeners access to its large customer base, where they can boost their income while gaining valuable retail experience on the day.
“We sold spinach, cabbage, thyme, and beetroot, and our first batch of produce sold out in an hour! The demand was so high that we had to bring more produce to keep up. Our garden will continue participating in future Market Days, as it gives us the chance to reach more customers and generate more income, helping us grow sustainably.”
- Sindiswa Maguma from Intambanana Farming and Multipurpose Coop in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape
Yizanazo Co-operative at Checkers Vincent, East London - Nomfundo Dyongo selling to Luyanda Mbembe.
Market Day also provides community farmers with the opportunity to connect with each other and engage with customers.
“It’s been an incredible experience to be part of Market Day again. The enthusiasm of the community was clear – some customers were so eager that they began purchasing even before we finished setting up! Seeing such a positive response reaffirms the impact our garden has had over the past two years. Every year, Market Day continues to be a highlight for us, not only because it showcases the fruits of our hard work, but also because it strengthens our connection with the local community, bringing us all together in support of sustainable homegrown produce.”
- Pastor Gabriel Kjungu from Jesus in Action’s Our Garden, from Brackenfell, Western Cape
Yizanazo Co-operative at Checkers Vincent, East London - Wesley Poamht selling to customer.
Participants form part of over 248 community food gardens supported by Shoprite and Checkers throughout Southern Africa.
Since 2015 these community food gardens have impacted the lives of over 80 000 people. The Shoprite and Checkers supported gardens provide access to nutritious fresh produce, and gardeners also receive training and support to sustain their efforts. This initiative cultivates much more than just access to fresh produce, it helps build stronger and more resilient communities. Over the past financial year, these gardens yielded more than 88 000 kg of produce.
This Market Day, gardeners from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia embodied the retailers’ commitment to provide access to affordable and nutritious food through this initiative. According to the newly published South African Food Security Index 2024, food security is at its lowest levels in a decade, with one in ten households experiencing child hunger.
For a complete list of gardens who participated in this Market Day, please access the press kit on the top of the page.