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17 November 2022
More than 30 local community food gardens sold their fresh and organically-grown produce directly to the public at selected Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets nationwide on Thursday, 17 November 2022.
Market Day is an opportunity for small-scale food gardens to promote themselves to a broader audience whilst gaining valuable retail experience.
Patricia Piyani from Wathint’ Abafazi in Gqeberha says that they really enjoyed the Market Day opportunity at their local Shoprite store. “It was a bit scary selling our fresh produce at Shoprite, but it was profitable for us and we’re extremely grateful to Shoprite for supporting local gardens and giving us such opportunities.”
“We’re very proud that our garden is being exposed to the public and the experience of interacting directly with customers also gives us valuable insights such as how they like to purchase fresh produce and what produce they would like to purchase in the future.”
- Zimasa Mlengana from Farm to Folk in Vanderbijlpark
“Market Day opened our minds to other opportunities out there to generate an income and the money made will go towards helping the children at our centre,” comments Nicky Thipe from the Nthabiseng Skills Training Centre for the Disabled in Rustenburg.
Grace Nkoana, member of the Siyakhula/Reahola Community Garden selling fresh produce at Checkers Grey Owl Midstream, Gauteng.
The following gardens participated in the Shoprite and Checkers Market Day – selling spinach, cabbage, beetroot, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, carrots and more:
Eastern Cape
- Wathint' Abafazi – Shoprite Ziyabuya, Gqeberha
- Phawu Agripak Cooperative – Shoprite Dutywa, Idutywa
Gauteng
- Farm to Folk – Checkers FX Emfuleni, Vanderbijlpark
- Siyakhula/Reahola Community Garden - Checkers Grey Owl Midstream, Centurion
- Mahata Mmoho Agricultural Cooperative - Checkers Hyper Vanderbijlpark
- NOSA Early Learning Orphans and Vulnerable Children's Centre - Checkers Wonderpark, Pretoria
- Tholakele Centre of Hope – Checkers Selcourt, Springs
- Environmentorz Community Food Garden – Checkers Southgate, Johannesburg
- LeanoAgri Food Garden – Checkers FX Greenstone Mall, Edenvale
- Moabelo Foundation – Checkers Hyper Arcon Park, Vereeniging
- Dithaka Dikopane Cooperative – Checkers Hyper Westgate, Roodepoort
- Carroll Shaw Memorial Centre – Checkers Tambotie Mall Randfontein
- Bakgatla ba Mosetlha – Shoprite Temba, Hammanskraal
North West
- Nthabiseng Skills Training Centre for the Disabled - Checkers Hyper Rustenburg
- Mokaila Community Project – Checkers Mafikeng
Limpopo
- Marubini Multi-Purpose Women's Primary Cooperative - Checkers Makhado Crossing, Louis Trichardt
- We Can Women’s Development Co-op – Shoprite Paledi
- Ratanang Agricultural Cooperative Limited – Shoprite Mankweng
Free State
- Qholaqhwe Garden Project – Shoprite Mandela Park, Puthaditjhaba
- Phahamang Basadi Community Garden – Checkers Parys 2
- Ntoanatsatsi Community Garden – Shoprite Setsing, Puthaditjhaba
- Free State Rural Women Assembly Agroecological Hub – Shoprite Botshabelo Mall
- Ntataise Creche Garden – Shoprite Botshabelo
KwaZulu-Natal
- Velemseni Farming Group – Shoprite Estcourt
- Siyazondla kwaPhindangene – Shoprite Ulundi
- Yenzanathi Community Upliftment Project – Checkers Watercrest, Pinetown
- Thubelihle Special Opportunity School – Shoprite Ladysmith
- Siyakhula Community Project – Shoprite Gingindlovu, KwaGingindlovu
Northern Cape
- Retshwenyegile Home Based Care – Checkers Hartswater
- Tshenolo Primary Co-operative – Shoprite Taung
Western Cape
- Siyazama Community Garden – Checkers Somerset West
Hunger relief and food security are at the core of the Shoprite Group’s corporate social investment programmes. The Group currently supports more than 180 community food gardens and over 3 500 home gardens, which impacts almost 53 000 beneficiaries. In the past year, more than 2 700 community members were trained in sustainable food gardening, assisting them to grow nutritious and organic food. The gardens collectively produced a harvest of more than 31 500kg, providing almost 100 000 meals.
The Group’s support also includes 18 months of hands-on permaculture training for garden members, as well as water-supply infrastructure, shade-netting and garden resources – including gardening tools, seeds, seedlings and compost.