OZCF MARKET, cape town

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the blog!

This first half of the year, HoliCityGuide is taking you to Cape Town, South Africa! Stay alert because we will be sharing our favourite spots, wellness addresses, sustainable living resources, and all of the beauty the city has to offer.

For the first edition of our South African series, we are introducing you to the Oranjezicht (OZCF) Market - a crowd favourite that might put the city on your radar.

First things first, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Cape Town and its surrounding region are incredibly diverse, lush, fertile and rich in terms of what grows and how easy it is to find fantastic produce. The Western Cape has many sustainable farming initiatives, farm-to-table restaurants, markets, and fresh produce. It is actually the norm for many city dwellers to know where their food is grown and who did so. How amazing to be so connected to nature, soils and what's on our plates... 

WHAT IS THE OZCF MARKET?

..And the OZCF Market is part of this natural-living movement. 

The OZCF market is held on Saturdays and Sundays from morning until 2 PM year-round and on Wednesday nights during summer. It welcomes more than 100 traders each weekend, selling everything you might need, from freshly harvested organic farm products to grass-fed, antibiotic-free animal products if you consume them. You can also buy local products (such as honey and candied nuts) and South African brands that sell clothes, bathing products, cosmetics, wine, and even dog accessories -the choice is all yours! 

You can grocery shop for the week and look for souvenirs but also have a meal there, which is the market's main attraction: delectable cuisine from around the globe is available (Lebanese, Asian, Ethiopian, French and much more). You must try this place!

Expect music, a laid-back ambience and big crowds (especially for the night markets) in a place that feels authentic and charming at the V&A. 

BEHIND THE MARKET

I had the chance to meet with the founder, Sheryl Ozinsky, who kindly let me on the premises before office hours. 

You wouldn't imagine that this enterprise takes a village to set up: from collecting produce to carefully selecting decor, the market is bustling even when it's closed to the public. 

She will agree that the market is a bit of a "balloon" - trendy, European-like vibes and higher-income South Africans and expats are attendees.

However, the market's story began with a different goal than catering to a specific demographic. Instead, it started as a neighbourhood watch Sheryl started in Oranjezicht to keep her community safe and united. She noticed a Dutch abandoned farm (Oranje Zigt Farmstead) dating from the eighteenth century and asked the city to create a community farm on it. From there blossomed the Oranjezicht City Farm, located in Cape Town. They supply all the fruits and vegetables sold at the market and have certification courses to approve other farms "organic". They educate and work closely with township farmers, a beautiful way of giving back to communities. This place truly is magical.

A big thank you to Sheryl and every passionate stakeholder we had the chance to meet!

Stay tuned for a deep dive into our favourite Capetonian farms; we found the initiatives here impressive and want to share them with you!

Yours in health,

HCG 

Oranjezicht City Farm Market

Haul Road, Granger Bay Blvd, 

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, 

Cape Town, 8001

Haul Road, Granger Bay Blvd, 

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, 

Cape Town, 8001