DOZENS of farmers, through the RCL Foods Hammarsdale Community Development Initiative, have been given a platform at the Do Good Market to sell their goods.
Residents from five of Hammarsdale’s poorest wards have learned to grow vegetables to feed themselves and their immediate community. “Their excellent yields led them to discover something else, give a man a market and he’s in business. RCL Foods’ Do Good Market was established to do exactly that, by providing a great outlet for the growers’ fresh, 100 per cent organic produce,” said Warren Farrer, the group CSI executive.
Launched three weeks ago, the Do Good Market allows buyers to get their hands on freshly-picked, attractively packed vegetables, including cabbages, spinach, spring onions, herbs, green beans, carrots and beetroot. The shop, which is open to the public, is situated on the ground floor of the RCL Foods head office at 10 The Boulevard, Westside Office Park in Westville.
The market has already been an astounding success, as the produce is competitively priced and directly benefits disadvantaged communities. The farmers have been amazed and excited at what the Do Good Market means for them and their families. “This is the first time we have made this much money from selling vegetables and we are excited to see our produce being packed and sold in a store,” one gardener said.
Warren Farrer said, “We can teach anyone to grow vegetables but it’s not going to provide a sustainable livelihood if there isn’t the right market for them. When these growers started to generate a surplus, we realised it was time to take the next step and give them access to a market where there is a consistent demand for fresh, quality produce. In this way we are contributing to not just improving long-term food security in Hammarsdale, but raising people’s standard of living in the communities around our KZN operations.”
In the first phase of the food security project, 50 homesteads were established and four communal gardens were provided with support through RCL Foods’ implementation partner, Lima Rural Development Foundation. Beneficiaries were supplied with seed packs, seedlings, basic garden tools, three days’ training in organic farming techniques, technical advice, mentorship and support.
Although the homestead gardens were set up mainly for consumption purposes, owners were encouraged to sell the surplus to their neighbours to earn additional income.
The Sixoshimdlala Agricultural Cooperative was duly formed to collect and buy vegetables from the various growers supported by the food gardens project. The cooperative has a mini pack-house where the vegetables are sorted, cleaned, weighed, packaged, labelled and delivered to RCL Foods’ Corner Shop. A six per cent mark-up covers RCL Foods’ overhead costs, and all the profits go directly to the farmers themselves.
For Warren Farrer, the project is an important example of what can be achieved when businesses, NGOs, government and ordinary people partner to create a positive, sustainable change. “It’s exciting to see how a project like this can become a catalyst for even more good in the community.”
The RCL Foods Corner Shop is open from 10am to 5.30pm from Monday to Friday. Visit the RCL Foods CSI Facebook page for updates on the market.
