Facilitating enterprise development around the production and/or supply of traditional fruit and vegetables: policy briefing note 4

This Briefing Note is the fourth in the series. Our research project “The Role of Traditional Food Systems in Rapid Urbanization” was designed to investigate the challenge of food insecurity in cities as experienced by migrant communities, specifically asking how knowledge of the production, trade and consumption patterns of traditional fruit and vegetables (TFVs) in urban (im)migrant communities can help design local and national policies to enhance consumption of fruit and vegetables to combat the growth of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The purpose of this brief is to summarise our findings on the patterns and barriers of TFV production and trade in Johannesburg and present policy recommendations on how to stimulate sustainable enterprise development to enhance availability, accessibility, and affordability of TFVs within the city to help tackle the problem of urban food insecurity and malnutrition. The following recommendations are made: 1) Promote information on the benefits of TFVs; 2) Develop and support urban farming initiatives, training, entrepreneurship and partnerships; and 3) Promote business along the TFV supply chain.