Fresh fruit and veggies unaffordable to consumers

THE FRESH Produce Market Inquiry by the Competition Commission of South Africa has found that several factors had impacted on consumers’ ability to afford fresh fruit and vegetables.

Local farmers believe the findings and recommendations could help assist them to make more profit.

The commission released its findings last week which included high mark-ups, barriers to market entry for small farmers and inefficiencies in the national fresh produce markets. These factors, it found, had impacted on consumers’ ability to afford fresh fruit and vegetables.

Hardin Ratshisusu, the deputy chairman of