8 June 2023
More than 30 local community food gardens sold their fresh and organically grown produce directly to the public at selected Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets on Wednesday, 7 June 2023.
Launched in 2017, the retailer’s Market Day serves as an opportunity for small-scale food gardens supported by the Shoprite Group, to gain valuable retail experience and to generate some additional income.
Dudu Radebe from the Dithaka Dikopane Cooperative in Walkerville, Gauteng, said that they thoroughly enjoyed Market Day. “We were delighted to sell our fresh vegetables directly to the public at the Checkers Southgate supermarket. The response from the community was fantastic, everyone was excited to sample our produce and we cannot wait for more such opportunities.”
“As small farmers we struggle to find markets, but the large customer footprint at Shoprite and Checkers enables us to sell to more customer.”
- Mpho Mutaung from the Carroll Shaw Memorial Centre in Randfontein
“This was our first Market Day and a valuable experience,” added Victor Zanbuko from Our Garden in Brackenfell, Cape Town.
Farmers from the Carroll Shaw Memorial Centre in Randfontein joined more than 30 other community food gardeners to sell their fresh and organically grown produce directly to the public at selected Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets on 7 June. On the photo is Zwelibanzi Lehana and Mpho Mutaung.
The following gardens participated in the Shoprite and Checkers Market Day – selling beans, beetroot, cabbage, carrots, onions, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes and more.
EASTERN CAPE:
- Siyalima Asidlali Co-operative – Shoprite Mount Ayliff
- Star Uplifting Centre – Shoprite Kingwilliamstown
- Wathint’ Abafazi – Shoprite Ziyabuya, Gqeberha
GAUTENG:
- Carroll Shaw Memorial Centre – Checkers Tambotie Mall Randfontein
- Dithaka Dikopane Cooperative – Checkers Southgate, Johannesburg
- Mahata Mmoho Agricultural Cooperative – Checkers Hyper Vanderbijlpark
- Mmakgomo Agricultural Co-operative – Checkers Pretoria North
FREE STATE:
- Dikonyana Community Based Care Center – Shoprite Heidedal, Bloemfontein
- Free State Rural Women Assembly Agroecological Hub – Shoprite Botshabelo Mall
- Ntsoanatsatsi Community Garden – Shoprite Setsing, Phuthaditjhaba
- Qholaqhwe Garden Project – Shoprite Mandela Park, Phuthaditjhaba
KWAZULU-NATAL:
- God’s Acres – Shoprite Raisethorpe, Pietermaritzburg
- Iqabungelihle Community Garden – Checkers Durban North
- Siyazondla kwaPhindangene – Shoprite Ulundi
- Thubelihle Special Opportunity School – Shoprite Ladysmith
- Velemseni Farming Group – Shoprite Estcourt
LESOTHO:
- Action Lesotho – Shoprite Leribe, Butha-Buthe
- St Cecilia Orphanage Home – Shoprite Sefika, Maseru
LIMPOPO:
- Marubini Multi-Purpose Women’s Primary Cooperative – Checkers Makhado Crossing
- Ndlovu Care Group – Shoprite Dennilton, Groblersdal
- Ratanang Agricultural Cooperative – Shoprite Mankweng, Polowane
- We Can Women's Development Cooperative – Shoprite Paledi, Polokwane
NORTH WEST:
- Bakgatla Ba Mosetlha – Shoprite Temba
- Nthabiseng Skills Training Centre for the Disabled - Checkers Rustenburg
MPUMALANGA:
- Ploughs and Feathers Co-operative – Checkers New Hazyview Junction
- Sibonile Agricultural Co-operative – Shoprite Acornhoek Mall, Nelspruit
- Timbavati Project – Shoprite Acornhoek Plaza, Nelspruit
- Too Fresh Produce Cooperative – Checkers Ermelo
WESTERN CAPE:
- Mthimkhulu Community Development Programme – Shoprite Kleinmond
- Our Garden – Checkers Protea Heights, Brackenfell
- Siyazama Community Garden – Checkers Somerset West
Community food gardeners, Andiswa Bukula and Nokwanda Nkqaye from the Siyazama Community Garden in Khayelitsha, joined more than 30 other community gardens at selected Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets to sell their fresh and organically grown produce directly to the public on 7 June.
The Shoprite Group is committed to ensuring food security and currently supports more than 200 community food gardens and over 3 500 home gardens, which impacts almost 55 000 beneficiaries. In the past year, more than 2 700 community members were trained in sustainable food gardening and the gardens collectively produced a harvest of more than 31 500 kg, providing almost 100 000 meals.