Gardeners from Botswana sell produce at Shoprite's event

Community gardeners from Botswana came together to leverage one of the region's influential retail platform to sell their vegetable produce at Shoprite Gaborone and Checkers Airport Junction Centre in Market Day 

Working for the cause of food security in southern Africa, Shoprite Group provided a profitable platform for growers from more than 300 community gardens in the country. 

“This year Market Day provided almost 60 gardeners and co-operatives across South Africa, Namibia and Botswana 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 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.”

Adams Eden, which participated at the event, offers trees and seedlings at discounted prices to foster sustainability. Tree cultivation besides, the nursery is also actively tapping into crop production to address the local demand for fresh vegetables. Operating since 2021, its vision is to make Botswana green.

“Through our participation in Market Day, we gained confidence in sharing our story and explaining our growing techniques, while understanding what customers value most,” said Lerato Bwire, the founder and operator of Adams Eden.

The platform also advances skills transfer across customer relations, communication, pricing, product presentation and record-keeping, among other things.

“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,” said Raghubir. “The power of this day is in taking this a step further by facilitating market entry with skills training.”

Alongside Market Day, the Shoprite Group also drives the Act For Change programme to support local community gardens. “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.”