Fresh market sales remain stable despite inflation

Cost fluctuations are a concern, but the potato market stands firm, writes Glenneis Kriel.

- Glenneis Kriel

The fresh market will grow from strength to strength, despite new sales and digitalisation trends, Geo van Zyl, managing director of RSA Cape Town, said during the Sandveld Seed Potato Producers' Organisation's annual general meeting in Velddrif.

Van Zyl said potato trading had been relatively stable on all the markets, despite rising inflation. "Yes, there had been cost fluctuations, but when you look at long-term trends, prices and sales have been relatively stable. Based on this, it will be very easy to pick up any discrepancies."

He added that consumers were expected to buy less of a product during price hikes, but market data was showing that the proportion of sales of different vegetables in the food basket remained relatively stable over time.

The Johannesburg market accounts for the largest volumes and value. From July 2019 to June 2020, the value of potatoes sold on this market amounted to R1,12 billion, at an average of R120,7 million per month.