HOEDSPRUIT – A collaboration between the Kruger Gate Hotel and the Siyazisiza Trust will see the hotel directly sourcing fresh produce from smallholder farmers in the nearby Belfast area, just a 10-minute drive from the hotel.

Hotel initiative promotes local sustainability

By placing regular weekly orders for a variety of produce, the hotel will provide farmers, including a female farmer and several young farmers under the age of 34, access to a stable, consistent market segment within the hospitality industry.

“This initiative is part of our commitment to demonstrating that the impact of hospitality extends far beyond guest services,” says Anton Gillis, CEO of Kruger Gate Hotel. “It has the potential to drive sustainable long-term change for the surrounding communities.”

Local families, community partnerships

He says the initiative, facilitated by Thrve Impact Partners, aligns with World Food Day’s theme, Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future, recognising the importance of working collaboratively with partners, staff, and stakeholders to achieve a sustainable food system, which includes reducing food waste and empowering surrounding communities.

By buying directly from local farms, the hotel inherently reduces the distance food travels, minimising the opportunity for loss, Gillis says.

“Our staff and their families are this community,” Gillis says. “It is important to us to foster long-term relationships with this community, and this project is one of the most meaningful ways in which we can do this.”