CAPE TOWN, May 31, 2026 — More than 60 local gardeners and cooperatives from across South Africa, Namibia and Botswana showcased and sold their fresh produce at selected Shoprite and Checkers stores during Market Day on Thursday.
All participating gardens form part of the over 300 community food gardens supported by the Shoprite Group across Southern Africa to help strengthen regional food security.
Market Day provides these community gardeners with valuable access to retail platforms and customers, and this year it coincided with World Hunger Day – a global awareness day focused on food insecurity and sustainable solutions.
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.
Among the community gardens participating in this year’s Market Day was the Dirang Batswana Greenery Project from the North West. Established in 2012 with just four members, the project has since developed 150 household gardens and a soup kitchen that feeds 300 children, using primarily vegetables grown in the gardens.
Gardener Seipati Tlhong says Market Day creates an important shift in mindset: “Being there on that day says ‘we are producers, not just beneficiaries’; that shift matters for how we see ourselves. Seeing people choose our produce over commercial brands reminds me that our labour has real value.”
“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. The power of this day is in taking this a step further through facilitating market entry with skills training,” said Sanjeev Raghubir, Chief Sustainability Officer at the Group.
As part of this support, participants receive practical retail training in areas including customer relations, communication, pricing, product presentation and record-keeping.
Beyond Market Day, the Shoprite Group continues to support community food gardens through its Act For Change programme, which to date has assisted hundreds of gardens with training, seedlings and infrastructure. This year, the retailer marks the milestone of its 300th community garden, a project outside Bredasdorp, in the Western Cape.
“It’s exciting to see the seeds we help sow within local communities grow and flourish,” says Raghubir. “We are proud to champion the local heroes of South African gardens and small farms, who nourish their communities and their future through their own dedication and hard work.”
A full list of participating gardens and stores:
Botswana
- Adams Eden at Shoprite Gaborone in Gaborone
- Sharodan Farms at Checkers Airport Junction Centre in Gaborone
Eastern Cape
- Nyara Youth Development at Checkers Nahoon in East London
- Yizanazo Co-operative at Checkers Vincent in East London
- Varhoyi & Mgodleni Co-op at Checkers Metlife in King Williams Town
- Silverdale Women’s Development NPC at Checkers Gillwell in East London
- Isithembiso Food Hub at Shoprite Amalinda in East London
- Intambanana Farming and Multipurpose Coop at Shoprite Mdantsane City in East London
- Masibambisane HBC & Development Garden at Shoprite Ziyabunya in Gqeberha
- Star Upliftment Food Garden at Shoprite Kingwilliamstown in King Williams Town
Free State
- Hola Le Rona Integrated Educare Centre at Shoprite Harrismith in Harrismith
- Ntoanatsatsi Community Garden at Shoprite Setsing in Phuthaditjhaba
- Qholaqhwe Garden Project at Shoprite Mandela Park in Phuthaditjhaba
- Lakkai Roi Foundation at Shoprite Mandela Park in Phuthaditjhaba
- Masimong Community Projects Primary Cooperative at Shoprite Heidedal in Heidedal
- Dikonyana Community Based Care Center at Shoprite Heidedal in Heidedal
Gauteng
- Vukasechaba Massive Fresh Produce Primary Co-Op at Checkers Columbine Square in Suideroord, Johannesburg
- Mmakgomo Agricultural Cooperative at Checkers Pretoria North in Pretoria
- Mahata Mmoho Agricultural Cooperative at Checkers Vanderbijlpark in Vanderbijlpark
- Khula Zonke Urban at Checkers Wilrogate in Roodepoort, Johannesburg
- Winnie Mabaso Foundation at Checkers Southgate, Mondeor, Johannesburg
- The Hope Park Children’s Health Campus Garden at Checkers FX Noordheuwel in Johannesburg
- Umthambeka Drop-in Centre at Checkers Hyper FX Kempton Park in Kempton Park
- Ubuntu Bee Keepers at Checkers FX The Grove Mall in Pretoria
- Light for Revelation Ministries Care Center at Checkers Hyper Acorn Park in Vereeniging
- Basheshebahleka Community Project at Checkers Northriding in Randburg, Johannesburg
- Plenty Green Africa at Checkers Hyper Mall of Carnival in Brakpan
KwaZulu-Natal
- Velemseni Farming Group at Shoprite Estcourt in Estcourt
- Yenzanathi Community Upliftment Project at Checkers FX Watercrest in Pinetown
- Iqabungelihle Community Garden at Checkers Cornubia in Durban
- Khula Nathi at Checkers Davenport Road in Durban
- Landezinye Farmers (Nkandla Cooperative) at Shoprite Mini Nkandla in Nkandla
- Anchored Women Empowerment at Shoprite Nquthu in Nquthu
- Kuhle okwemvelo garden project at Checkers Amanzimtoti in Amanzimtoti
- Patience Food Garden at Shoprite West Street in Durban
- Siyaphambili Womens Hub at Shoprite Hyper Galleria in Amazimtoti
Limpopo
- We Can Women’s Development Cooperative at Shoprite Paledi in Polokwane
- Marubini Multi-Purpose Women’s Primary Cooperative at Shoprite Elim in Louis Trichardt
- Khenso Farming Cooperative at Shoprite Namakgale in Phalaborwa
- Bolokegang Community Project at Shoprite Maake in Tzaneen
- Thoro Ya Peu Youth Project at Shoprite Lebowakgomo in Lebowakgomo
- Ratanang Agricultural Cooperative Limited at Shoprite Makweng in Makweng
- Tsogo Community Development Hub (NPO) at Checkers FX Mall of the North in Polokwane
Mpumalanga
- Ploughs and Feathers Co-operative Ltd at Checkers New in Hazeyview Junction
- Timbavati Garden at Shoprite Acornhoek Plaza in Acornhoek
- Siphiwe Okuhle Hub [from KhaMhlanga, Mpumalanga] at Checkers Hyper Montana in Pretoria
Namibia
- Groot Aub Fresh Producers at Shoprite Lafrenz in Windhoek
Northern Cape
- Tsogang Garden Project at Shoprite Segonyana Mall in Kuruman
North West
- Dirang Batswana Greenery Project at Shoprite Mini Koster in Koster
- Boitekong Vegetable Garden at Shoprite Boitekong in Rustenburg
- Bakgatla ba Mosetlha at Shoprite Themba in Themba
- PatCathy & Projects Co-Operative at Checkers FX Mooirivier in Potchefstroom
- Mokaila Community Project at Checkers Mahikeng Mall in Mahikeng
- Kopanelo Projects at Shoprite Mahikeng Mall in Mahikeng
- AGRICOOP Baetseanape at Shoprite Mini Lethlabile in Lethlabile
- Mama Ruby Primary Co-operative Limited at Shoprite Lethlabile in Lethlabile
Western Cape
- Our Garden [Jesus in Action] at in Checkers Protea Heights and the Shoprite Group’s Home Office in Brackenfell, Cape Town
- The New World Foundation Eco-Village and Skills Centre at Shoprite Westgate Mall in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town
- Mhani Gingi at Shoprite Group Home Office in Brackenfell, Cape Town
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