Staff Writer
Beetroot, carrots, chillies, herbs and other vegetables grown in a Namibian community garden were showcased and sold at Shoprite Lafrenz in Windhoek during Market Day.
This year, the project which annually provides local community gardeners with a valuable retail platform coincided with World Hunger Day, which is a global awareness day focused on food insecurity and sustainable solutions.
Groot Aub Fresh Producers is among more than 300 community gardens supported by the Shoprite Group across southern Africa, helping to strengthen food security in the region.
“This year, Market Day provided nearly 60 local gardeners and cooperatives across the region 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, the group’s chief sustainability officer.
“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. In some instances, they even purchased seedlings for their own home gardens.”
Located on the outskirts of Windhoek, the Groot Aub Fresh Producers food garden grows a wide variety of crops, enabling project members to sell produce to community members and create employment opportunities.
Surplus produce from the six year old community garden is often donated to a neighbouring old-age home and community centre.
“Through this Shoprite Group project, we get connected to other communities, which helps us to sell our products quicker and generate income more easily,” explained Julia Haipinge.
“For each community gardener taking part in Market Day, there is a story both of individual circumstance and a pathway toward a more grounded and food-secure life rooted in the soil,” Raghubir added.
“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 marked the milestone of its 300th community garden located outside Bredasdorp, South Africa.
“It’s exciting to see the seeds we help sow within our communities grow and flourish,” said Raghubir.
“We are proud to champion the heroes of southern African gardens and small farms, who nourish their communities and their future through their own dedication and hard work.”
