It’s been nearly 40 years that the market has been serving the local community and it has come a long way since selling carrots out of farmers’ bakkies in 1976.
Organic and natural food that is additive free and uncontaminated was the cornerstone on which the market was developed. Ten years ago, a Participatory Guarantee System was established as the market’s customers were looking for assurance that the fresh produce sold at the market was grown organically.
Relying on transparency, trust, peer review and knowledge sharing, a Participatory Guarantee System provides an affordable alternative to expensive third party certification. A selection of people from that community, which might include a local farmer, a retailer and a consumer, go and inspect farms. Participatory Guarantee System initiatives are serving thousands of smallholder organic farmers and their consumers all over the world, and the numbers are increasing every year.
“Participatory Guarantee System supports and enhances the practice of organic agriculture and empowers farming communities by giving them access to organic markets that are largely dominated by big business,” said Audrey Wainwright, operations manager at the market.
Harvesting a smorgasbord of greens, root crops, nuts and fruits from his hectare in Lanseria, Shadreck Mbiba said the market demand remained greater than supply and his turnover was constantly growing. “Organic farming could be considered a new practice, but it actually goes a long way back to our forefathers,” he added.
The market is open for business on Thursdays and Saturdays and has on average 3 500 shoppers a week.
Details: www.bryanstonorganicmarket.co.za
