Community gardeners bring fresh produce to Checkers Market Day
Local growers, including Plenty Green Africa at Checkers Hyper Mall@Carnival, brought fresh produce straight from community gardens to shoppers as part of Checkers Market Day.
Beetroot, carrots, chillies, herbs and other vegetables grown in community gardens across Gauteng were showcased and sold at selected Checkers stores, including Checkers Hyper Mall@Carnival, on Market Day on May 28.
There were 11 Gauteng community gardeners that took part this year among 300 community gardens supported by the Shoprite Group across southern Africa to strengthen food security.
“This year Market Day provided almost 60 local gardeners and co-operatives across the country with the opportunity to sell their fresh produce directly to the public, gain retail experience and strengthen the roots of small businesses that feed their communities,” said Sanjeev Raghubir, chief sustainability officer at the Shoprite Group.
“Customers stocked up on local peppers, spinach, parsley and many other vegetables and fruits, met the small-scale farmers and learned about their sustainable growing methods and in some instances, even purchased seedlings for their own home gardens.
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“For each community gardener taking part in Market Day, there is a story both of individual circumstance and a pathway towards a more grounded and food secure life rooted in the soil.
“The power of this day is in taking this a step further by facilitating market entry with skills training.”
Beyond Market Day, the Shoprite Group continues to support community food gardens through its Act For Change programme, which to date has assisted hundreds of gardens with training, seedlings and infrastructure.
This year, the retailer marks the milestone of its 300th community garden, a project outside Bredasdorp, in the Western Cape.
“It’s exciting to see the seeds we help sow within local communities grow and flourish,” said Raghubir.
“We are proud to champion the local heroes of South African gardens and small farms, who nourish their communities and their future through their own dedication and hard work.”
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