Entrepreneurs benefit from fresh produce market

Polokwane fresh produce market offers the ideal platform for entrepreneurs like informal traders and emerging farmers to create sustainable businesses and contribute to the economic growth of the city and residents are invited to attend the official launch tomorrow (Friday) at its premises in Magnesiet Street in Magna Via, next to Makro.
According to a recent media release, the market has in the past attracted the support of more than 9 000 buyers, of which more than 7 000 are part of the informal economy. Since relocating to this new facility in December last year, this buyer base has grown to include both local traders as well as buyers from across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Theo Botha, Managing Director of FGX, the only virtual trading platform for fresh produce in South Africa, is reported to have said that the value of this market lies in the significant impact it has on reducing unemployment in Limpopo. “It creates an enabling environment where informal trade flourishes, which in turn creates even more employment opportunities in the informal economy. Independent porters who assist buyers in loading their purchases at the market also have an opportunity to earn an income on an independent basis.”
According to the media release, 70% of buyers are owners of small shops, kiosks and smaller wholesalers as well as hawkers, while 10% are feeding schemes. The remaining 20% is made up of larger wholesalers and retailers.
“The market also supplies a fair, consistent and reliable marketing channel for emerging farmers, enabling them to focus their attention on maximizing production quantity and quality. Through this effort, approximately 300 producers throughout the country is supported, ensuring consistency in the supply of a large variety of fresh produce all year round. This enables the market to supply sufficient volumes of high quality fresh produce, which in turn enables the market buyers to service their end consumers,” according to Botha.
A large variety of fresh produce is available here and increases as new producers choose the market as their preferred marketing channel in Limpopo. This increase in turn leads to a wider variety available to the buyers and ultimately their customers.

Story: MARKI FRANKEN
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