When Shoprite launched its Act For Change Food Garden Competition in October 2025, it couldn’t have anticipated the overwhelming response it would receive.
Nearly 600 community gardens from across South Africa threw their hats into the ring, each with a story of resilience, innovation and community transformation.
The top 10 finalists have now been announced, and their stories are nothing short of inspiring. These gardens aren’t just growing vegetables – they are also cultivating hope, creating opportunities and building sustainable communities from the ground up.
Also read: Meet the judges set to join Shoprite’s Act For Change Food Garden Competition
Beyond the Harvest: A Holistic Approach to Judging
“The judging process considered not only agricultural output but also community reach, sustainability, skills transfer and social impact,” says Sanjeev Raghubir, chief sustainability officer at the Shoprite Group. This comprehensive approach has identified gardens that are making a real difference in their communities.
From rural villages in Limpopo to urban townships in Gauteng, these finalists represent the diversity and ingenuity of South Africa’s food garden movement:
Limpopo – Leading the Pack
Three gardens from Limpopo made the cut, showcasing the province’s agricultural potential:
- ACFS Khunadi Food Garden in Mogoto Village supplies vegetables to local feeding programmes while training women and youth, supporting about 50 people monthly.
- Agrinode Garden in Bela-Bela strengthened food access during Covid-19 and now supplies approximately 100 households and trains unemployed youth. Its efforts earned it the Best Female Subsistence Farmer award in 2024.
- Bafepi Mix Farming and Project in Mahlogo Village provides affordable vegetables, trains 25 students and donates surplus produce to churches and crèches.
Also read: Enter now! Shoprite launches R1 million food garden competition
Gauteng – Urban Innovation Hub
Four finalists from Gauteng show how food gardens can thrive in urban settings:
- Hope Park Children’s Health Campus Garden in Munsieville in Krugersdorp feeds more than 350 learners across four schools and supplies 27 households monthly using organic, water-wise methods.
- P Agricultural Group (PAG) in Soweto’s Tladi area started as an informal project in 2018 and now provides vegetables to more than 150 families every Christmas and promotes youth leadership in farming.
- Plenty Green Africa in Tsakane is a youth-led urban garden that is transforming underused spaces into community hubs. It serves about 20 households, including women, youth and local chefs, while tackling youth unemployment.
- SMU Community Garden at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Ga-Rankuwa supplies free produce to students in need and has become a skills development hub, training more than 20 students.
Eastern Cape – Community Resilience
Two Eastern Cape gardens showcase long-term community development:
- Food Security Project in Gonubie has been serving the Mzamomhle community for 11 years, supporting 162 women who tend their own plots and providing comprehensive training in organic farming and water preservation.
- Ngxanga School Garden in Libode is teaching 243 learners to grow and appreciate nutritious vegetables. It also supports five households and addresses unemployment through agroecology.
Mpumalanga – From Small Beginnings to Great Impact
- A Spring of Hope Community Eco Hub in Acornfield/Bolla Tau has grown from a single borehole in 2006 to benefit more than 100 000 people through water security initiatives, hydroponics, permaculture and enterprise development.
The Road to Victory
Guest judges Masimbonge Vuma, Mosa Seshoene, Ncumisa Mkabile and Angel Campey will now narrow these 10 finalists down to six. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Cape Town on 10 March.
Also read: From seed to supermarket: Community food gardens take centre stage on Shoprite and Checkers’ Market Day
R1 Million in Tailored Support
The competition offers more than just recognition. With prizes valued at R1 million, the support will be tailored to each winning garden’s specific needs to help them grow, expand their reach and sustain their impact over time.
A Movement Beyond Competition
“Through the Act For Change Food Garden Project, we are reinforcing our long-term commitment to sustainable interventions that help communities thrive,” says Raghubir. This competition represents more than a contest – it’s a celebration of community-led solutions to food insecurity and a commitment to supporting grassroots innovation.
These 10 finalists prove that with the right support and recognition, community gardens can be powerful catalysts for change, creating not just food security but also opportunities for skills development, income generation and environmental sustainability.
As we await the final results, one thing is clear: regardless of who wins, these gardens have already transformed their communities – and they’re just getting started.
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