A unique small boutique garden that produces delicious culinary herbs, edible flowers, micro greens and a selection of baby-leaf salads is facing closure just months after it took off.
Elona Cebo Sprouts and Herbs is a black- owned co-op situated in KwaGubevu outside King William’s Town.
Some of their produce includes Asian Greens such as mizuna and pakchoi baby leaves, edible pansies, cornflowers, nasturtiums, and herbs such as basil, mint, oregano and sage.
Founder Sinethemba Mafutha said they were working from a makeshift greenhouse from the back of his house.
“We do not have a shortage of buyers and we want to continue with production because we have customers.
“All that is needed to make sure business continues is a proper structure and a cooler bakkie for transportation,” said Mafutha.
He said their first samples were ready in December and they now supply some of the key roleplayers in the hospitality industry.
These include the Regent, Blue Lagoon, King David and ELICC hotels, and some restaurants.
“Most co-ops around the province only focus on vegetables and after years of working as a chef in Johannesburg, I realised that a producer of some of these highly sought-after sprouts and herbs was something that food businesses in the province could benefit from,” said Mafutha.
He quit his day-job at Hemingways Hotel in 2014 and got together with other unemployed youth from KwaGubevu to start up the garden.
“We had no funding but we all pitched in from our own pockets to get started, which included the purchase of seeds and equipment.
“It would really be a loss – not only for us but for our community if this project failed,” said Mafutha. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
Successful herb garden stunted by funds crisis
Elona Cebo Sprouts and Herbs is a black- owned co-op situated in KwaGubevu outside King William’s Town.
Some of their produce includes Asian Greens such as mizuna and pakchoi baby leaves, edible pansies, cornflowers, nasturtiums, and herbs such as basil, mint, oregano and sage.
Founder Sinethemba Mafutha said they were working from a makeshift greenhouse from the back of his house.
“We do not have a shortage of buyers and we want to continue with production because we have customers.
“All that is needed to make sure business continues is a proper structure and a cooler bakkie for transportation,” said Mafutha.
He said their first samples were ready in December and they now supply some of the key roleplayers in the hospitality industry.
These include the Regent, Blue Lagoon, King David and ELICC hotels, and some restaurants.
“Most co-ops around the province only focus on vegetables and after years of working as a chef in Johannesburg, I realised that a producer of some of these highly sought-after sprouts and herbs was something that food businesses in the province could benefit from,” said Mafutha.
He quit his day-job at Hemingways Hotel in 2014 and got together with other unemployed youth from KwaGubevu to start up the garden.
“We had no funding but we all pitched in from our own pockets to get started, which included the purchase of seeds and equipment.
“It would really be a loss – not only for us but for our community if this project failed,” said Mafutha. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
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