Overview of Food Security Change Lab Learning Journeys: Gauteng: May 2010 Cape Town: May 2010

Transcription

1 Overview of Food Security Change Lab Learning Journeys: Gauteng: May 2010 Cape Town: May 2010 Gauteng: Day 1 Following the welcome and introductions, Pick n Pay franchise partners George Senosha and Chris Linder discussed how they set up their franchise store in Soshanguve, with emphasis on working with local suppliers to build a locally trusted brand. This was followed by a presentation by Florian Kroll from WITS on recent research on household food consumption in Lusaka, Harare, Gaborone, Cape Town and Johannesburg, conducted as part of the African Food Security Urban Network (AFSUN). After lunch, the group went on a walking tour through Hillbrow and Yeoville to talk to street vendors and shop owners selling food to find out more about their customers see pictures below. A Nigerian street vendor in Hillbrow explains more about the meals he sells. Talking to a Zimbabwean shop owner Food Security Change Lab Summary of learning journeys, May

2 A bring-and-braai shop on a street in Hillbrow A vendor at the Yeoville Food Market Gauteng: Day 2 During breakfast at the Joburg Fresh Produce Market, discussions centered on how this market one of the world s largest fresh produce markets works, with emphasis on how it sources its produce. This was followed by a tour of the market and interviews with agents working on the floor. (See photo on the right.) One of those spoken to was one of the few black agents in the market, who discussed issues related to transformation at the market, and the challenges of building new relationships with farmers. In the afternoon, the group visited the Pick n Pay Franchise in Soshanguve and met with local management to discuss the operations and supply chains of the store (see picture on the left). This was followed by a meeting with the Orange Farming Food Security Change Lab Summary of learning journeys, May

3 Consortium of emerging farmers in the Winterberg, who supply the Pick n Pay franchise. They have been in operation for 7 years and have grown to orange trees, providing oranges to multiple retailers. In the closing session or in subsequent feedback, some of the following comments were made by participants: I definitely got a broader understanding of what s going on, from the people the humanness of the food system I don t get that from reading research. I was struck by the business pride of small scale sellers they are very conscious and aware of customers needs. The exposure has helped me to see how much positive energy there is in this country. There are so many opportunities out there, and people don t know about them; there are so many networks and links within the system. Thank you for the opportunity to get into places and to see a broad cross section of the system. Cape Town: Day 1 Following the welcome and introductions, Jane Battersby-Lennard from UCT presented research on household food security, with a focus on Cape Town, based on the African Food Security Urban Network (AFSUN) survey of 11 southern African cities. After lunch the group took a walk around Philippi (see photo on rights), where a number of road-side vendors were passed (see photos below). Food Security Change Lab Summary of learning journeys, May

4 The group visited a community garden in the local clinic. While at the clinic group we were invited to view the main community garden where they met with one of Abalimi s community workers, Vatiswa, who spoke to the group about how the garden started, who was involved and what some of their challenges and successes have been. In the afternoon, the group travelled to the Food Bank in Philippi, where discussions were held with a number of staff members, including the executive manager (see photo on right, above). Some of these discussions were held in smaller groups to allow for more detailed and at times personal conversations. At one point the discussion focused on the local civil society partners of the Food Bank, based on a large map that showed their location (see photo on right, below). Cape Town: Day 2 The day started with Eddie Becker, the Operations Manager of the Cape Town Fresh Produce Market in Epping, providing an overview of the history of the market (see photo on right), where they source products, their relationship with farmers and the traders who buy from them. He spoke about the challenges of managing waste, their community outreach program, international markets, trends in prices, and his views on key challenges in the broader food system. The group was then taken for a tour of the premises and given explanation of how the market works. The group then visited Imraahn Ismail-Mukaddam, shop owner in Elsies River, initiator of the Consumer Action Network (CAN) and board member of the Elsies River Advice Centre. He shared with the group his story of how he got involved in the bread price exposé, inspired also by his previous involvement in the anti- Food Security Change Lab Summary of learning journeys, May

5 apartheid struggle and community mobilization (see photo on right). He spoke of challenges of competing with big retailers that have buying power and therefore can offer lower prices and other limiting factors including competition from none-nationals like Somali and Bangladeshi emerging small businesses. After lunch the group had a walking tour in Elsies River and met informal traders (mostly selling vegetables and some fish), as well as their customers. One of participants had this to say in an some days after the learning journey: I enjoyed being on the Learning Journey. I learnt so much I also loved the fact that we were from different disciplines but all looking at and concerned about hunger and poverty. I have a lot to think about (still). Food Security Change Lab Summary of learning journeys, May