Consumer prices of groceries in South Africa have risen but supplies of mangoes and avocado in Limpopo Province hold stead.

On the occasion of South Africa’s October Food Month, officials have remarked that Limpopo is without food pressure due to its “rich and fertile soil.”

Nationally, however, potato, onion and egg market prices have spiked by as high as 13% week on week. Tomato and cabbage prices, on the other hand, have slumped.

This is in spite of a slight let up of inflation, which fell from 5.4% to 4.7% in July, 2023. Food inflation reached a high point in March, 2023 when it topped general inflation at 13.4% vis-à-vis 6.9%.

Ag economy experts cite load shedding and the weakening of the Rand as the primary reasons for costly groceries. Overwhelming power cuts in September, 2023 saw the Rand reach its lowest point since June, of 19.235 against the dollar.

Egg and chicken price spike stems from the culling of 30% of the country’s poultry due to avian flu. The retail cost of just two eggs in food kiosks in October is ZAR2.50 ($0.13).

The most surprising current result is the price of potatoes, which has more than doubled from the October, 2022 base. On October 5, 2023, a 10kg potato bag crossed the 100 Rand ($5.33). A week later on October 12, it reached ZAR200 ($10.66). In the current week of October 18, potato prices have witnessed a 13% hike, to retail at premium ZAR247 ($13.17).

Limpopo still holds the crown as South Africa’s garden

Amid the national food price turmoil, the northern province of Limpopo still is South Africa’s avocado and mango basket.

The province expects to produce 75% of the country’s mango crop this year. The avocado margin will also reach last year’s 60% of countrywide production. This also applies to the South African tomato crop, 60% of which come from this province. Limpopo’s ZZZ (pty) Ltd, supplies 40% of the country’s tomatoes.

Following South Africa’s celebrated deal to ship avocado to China, Africado, a subsidiary of ZZZ holds the tender for the shipments.

Thus, despite consumer inflation, Limpopo still expects to contribute to the country’s reserves including 285,000 metric tons of potatoes.