Tshwane Market closed temporarily on June 24 after a COVID-19 infection. It is scheduled to open again on the 27^th of June.  In response, RSA Group, South Africa’s leading fresh produce sales organisation, has opened an alternative trading facility in Midrand.

‘It will support the country’s farmers and ensure that buyers continue to have reliable access to produce,’ says Jaco Oosthuizen, RSA Group CEO. ‘Stakeholders across the industry have come together incredibly well since lockdown to ensure national food security. This is another contribution to the cause.’

The facility opened on the 26^th of June after just two day’s preparation. The first day of business saw over 340 pallets of fresh produce for sale – an unprecedented volume given the speed with which the alternative facility was set up.

Freshlinq, the company behind the market infrastructure and management, was quick to move in partnership with RSA Group, and its technology backbone and operational systems have played a key role in the Midrand facility’s ability to get trading with such speed. The alternative facility’s success also illustrates the reality that effective price discovery isn’t the sole domain of municipal facilities; and can thrive in any physical or online environment.

‘It’s a high tech system with excellent transparency, and produce can move very quickly,’ says Oosthuizen. ‘This is in line with the way markets are evolving globally into ‘low touch’ facilities that deliver excellent price discovery and meet the new demands of the COVID economy. We are confident it will make a sustained contribution to the industry.’

Source: Strategic Communications/RSA Group