Honours Joburg Market Tour 2019

The 2019 Honours Class of the Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology launched a tour to the Joburg Market. This tour was the first of the planned annual visits to expose the students to the operations of fresh produce markets.

The tour was organised by Mrs René Tong (Head Technician, Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology), who also chaperoned the class alongside Mr Craig Pillay (Quality Assurance Manager) through the various trading halls. They visited facilities such as the consignment section, banana ripening section, and the testing laboratories to review how the facilities at the Joburg Market fared against internationally visible markets.

The Joburg Market is South Africa’s largest fresh produce market by volume and value. It operates based on farmers delivering their fruits and vegetables to market agents who then sell them to buyers. These activities allow the Joburg Market to be a one-stop destination for retailers, shopkeepers, street traders, restaurateurs, exporters and general consumers to access the widest variety of fruits and vegetables available at a commercial scale.

Article by: Dr Nomali Ngobese