Food gardens bear fruit
COMMUNITY food gardens sold their fresh produce at Shoprite and Checkers stores countrywide yesterday to raise awareness of World Hunger Day.
The day aims to inspire people around the world to show their solidarity and support for the women, men and children who are ending their own hunger and poverty.
It is about raising awareness of chronic hunger and about celebrating the achievements of millions of people who are already taking action to end their own hunger.
Last Friday the Shoprite group opened its stores to community-run food gardens in surrounding areas to shed light on the impact of hunger on communities across the country.
More than 14 million South Africans go hungry every day.
Greenlands Primary Food Garden sold their produce at Shoprite in Bishop Lavis.
Yiza Ekhaya Soup Kitchen marketed their goods at Shoprite in Khayelitsha, and Iris House Children’s Hospice sold their produce at Checkers Hyper, Fairbridge Mall, in Brackenfell.
Shoprite public relations and communications manager Adele Lambrechts said: “By investing in and expanding long-term sustainable initiatives such as food gardens, community feeding schemes now have access to fresh and nutritional produce, plus they can sell their excess crops to generate much-needed funds.”
The Shoprite group says that in partnership with local farming specialists, including Urban Harvest and Food and Trees for Africa, it ensures that these community organisations are mentored and equipped to create and maintain their gardens.
In addition to the sustainable food gardens, excess food from all Shoprite and Checkers stores are made available to hundreds of verified nonprofit organisations while its fleet of mobile soup kitchens enables the group to respond to immediate needs in vulnerable communities.