Winners of food garden competition

Video

GEORGE NEWS - Gardeners from the Garden Route reaped the results of their work at the prize-giving of the Garden Route Food Garden Competition on Friday 22 April, held at the Outeniqua Research Farm.

The competition, now in its second year, is run by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture to help people increase their income by selling the food they grow.

Prizes were awarded in two categories. In the Household Food Gardens category the winner was Petrus Jemaar, the runner-up was Frans Philander and the third-placed George Thyse.

In the category for Community and School Food Gardens the winner was La Phumilanga Community Garden. Herbertdale School Garden was the runner-up and Kretzenshoop Primary School took third place.

The Western Cape deputy director of agriculture producer support and development, Clyde Lamberts, said the competition is meant to motivate beneficiaries and ensure that they remain active.

VIDEO: Prize winners

He said food gardening puts nutritious food on the gardener's own table that helps increase their immune system, and can generate an additional income from selling the surplus products.

According to Lamberts the department has supported about 430 households in the Garden Route, including the municipal areas of Bitou, Knysna, George, Mossel Bay and Hessequa.

Part of the prizes were vouchers that recipients can use to buy production inputs like seeds.

Lamberts said people feel proud of being able to feed their families and praised all the participants, saying each of them is a winner.

The winners with officials of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture.