Shopping locally can double the amount of money circulated among local businesses in a given community. This was one of the findings in a study conducted by PhD graduate Viki Sonntag.
Sonntag explains that shopping locally is defined by purchasing goods from community-based enterprises rather than those headquartered outside a region.
Local fresh produce stall owners in central Stellenbosch offer fresh produce stocked daily to consumers at prices cheaper than many supermarket franchises in the region – KACHING! They also present an opportunity for individuals to support local business men and women.
Infographic showing the average fruit and vegetable prices of three local fresh produce stalls in Stellenbosch in relation to the average fruit and vegetables prices of 3 supermarkets in Stellenbosch; namely Checkers, Pick ‘n Pay and Spar.
“Every single day we get fresh stuff, and that is what people are looking for. By the evening most of the fruits are sold out, but some of the vegetables that are left we pack into the truck for the night. Fresh produce is also usually cheaper here than in the shops,” explains Jomain James, a local fresh produce stall manager at the Bird Street Taxi Rank.
James’ father established the fresh produce business 55 years ago, and worked selling fresh produce to local customers until he was 70 years old. James has since been managing the business for her father for the past four years, and says that the fresh produce stall financially supports six employees.
Apples sourced from the Epping Market in Cape Town on display at a local fresh produce store owned by Gurshwin Linders outside the Stelmark Centre in Stellenbosch. PHOTO: Cally Ballack
Most local fresh produce business owners in Stellenbosch source their produce from the Epping Fresh Produce Market in Cape Town.
Gurshwin Linders, an entrepreneur who owns a fresh produce stall outside the Stelmark Centre in Stellenbosch, explains that “many farmers send freshly picked fruit and vegetables from their farms straight to the Epping Market, and so we go and source all our produce there every morning.”
Fresh produce stall owners have different tactics to tackle the dreaded Cape Town traffic to make it to and from the Epping Market each morning.
Wayne Newman manages a fresh produce store owned by his brother which is also located at the Bird Street Taxi Rank.
A fresh produce stall assistant carrying a pumpkin to a customer wanting to purchase it. PHOTO: Cally Ballack
“If you want to beat the traffic then you must go really early or just afterwards. You could be in the traffic for more than two hours otherwise. But it’s just routine for us. Just like every morning one must get up and eat [one’s] breakfast and end [one’s] day with eating their dinner, we just get up and do this,” explained Newman.
“We start at 2h00 and end at 18h30. The employees then leave at 3h00 in the morning to get to the Epping Market if you want to get all the fresh stuff. By the evening most of the fruits are sold out, but some of the vegetables that are left we pack into the truck for the night. It’s a really long day, I sleep three or four hours a night,” explained James.
“We have to get started at 5h00 to make sure we get fresh produce and are then back at our spot by 9h00. We get new fresh produce every day,” said Linders.
The average profits generated daily by local fresh produce business owners in Stellenbosch ranges from R1000 to R2000 depending on how busy the foot traffic is each day past the respective stalls.
Image showing fruit sourced at the Epping Market at a stall managed by Wayne Newman. Customers can purchase fruits individually or buy small bags of fruit. PHOTO: Cally Ballack
“We then have to pay our employees and pay the municipality to be able to use this spot here. We each pay the municipality R180 a month to rent the space we use for trading,” said Linders.
Linders explains that while it is important for locals to support Stellenbosch small businesses, he also believes it is important for small businesses to help the community out wherever they can.
“We often do local school and church donations whenever we can. Usually we donate some produce to Pieter Langeveldt Primary School or Saint Idas Primary as well as the Methodist church, especially when they have events,” says Linders.