When Sheryl Ozinsky started the Oranjezicht City Farm Market 10 years ago, it wasn’t driven by a desire to simply sell fresh produce. Rather, she wanted to create a sense of community where people could meet, chat and eat together.
It was a profound success, paving the way for one of South Africa’s most successful markets, and one of Cape Town’s most visited attractions. It used to be run as a not-for-profit organisation which was open only on Saturdays, and run with the help of volunteers. For the first few years, when the market was still situated next to the farm in Oranjezicht, Ozinsky used to schlep everything around in her car, and there was hardly any electricity, fridges or toilets. Soon after the market moved to Granger Bay, Covid hit.
“Everything I’ve done in my life, from the Aquarium to Cape Town Tourism to the Museum, has always stood the test of time. And when you hand over the baton, you want to be sure it goes to someone with the right convictions and passion, someone assertive and kind — so that the market can endure,” she says.“This market was about trying to change the food system in a small way, because that’s what we are passionate about.