Supermarkets hit by 'tomato blight'

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Monday December 6, 2010 00:00

'We do not have tomatoes,' Pick n Pay franchisee, Ruth Krupavaram, confirmed to Business  Monitor on Wednesday last week.  A shop assistant at Choppies Supermarket said they were having problems with the supply of tomatoes because they bought from suppliers who got their products from South Africa.

The assistant, who did not want to be named, said Choppies was trying its best to support local farmers but was disappointed that the farmers were failing.

'Sometimes when you are expecting a delivery, a supplier will call to say they are unable to deliver,' he said.

'Because we are also strict on quality, there are instances on which we have rejected tomatoes.'

The Director of Daily Needs Supermarket, Mohammed Mukarrum, said the situation with tomatoes had been ongoing for more than a week, adding that the situation could be the result of the closure of the border with South Africa.

Subsequently, they got a few supplies from local farmers but their customers were not happy with the quality. 'In some instances, local farmers were unable to deliver because they had problems with their vehicles,' said Mukarrum. 'We are now looking for anyone who can supply us continuously.'

Leretetse Mmudi said the shortage of tomatoes in supermarkets was benefiting them as Small, Medium and Micro-Enterprises (SMMEs) because they had tomatoes which they purchase from local farmers while some are from their backyard gardens. 'We want the government to encourage chain stores to buy from local farmers, but they are failing to deliver,' she said.  Mmudi said local farmers must pull up their socks because if they fail, chain stores will order tomatoes from South Africa and will raise their prices.