The Mpumalanga International FoodMarket (MIF) will officially open for active physical trade of fresh produce on 27 October 2026, ending a process marred by several years of delays.
By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming
“Following several years of delays, compliance adjustments, systems development and integration, infrastructure modification and administrative oversight regarding localised by-laws, we are thrilled to announce that the Mpumalanga International FoodMarket will officially open doors for active physical trade of produce on 27 October 2026,” MIF Chief Executive Officer Thomas Makgoba said in a statement.
The opening will follow a phased roadmap beginning on 16 October to ensure a smooth transition into live operations.
Also read: Mpumalanga government dismisses DA criticism over International FoodMarket; defends phased rollout
Onboarding and deliveries
Buyer and farmer onboarding gets underway on Friday 16 October. Buyers who register early during this phase will be able to secure their buyer cards and bypass opening-day queues.
Non-perishable and semi-perishable goods, among them potatoes, onions, apples, bananas, grains, dried fruits, nuts and UHT milk, will be received from 07:00 on Tuesday 20 October. The market says this approach is preferable in cases where the market agency has already identified a buyer or buyers for the product, to avoid losses to the farmer.
Highly perishable produce, including tomatoes, berries, leafy greens, peppers and mushrooms, will be accepted from 18:00 on Sunday 25 October. Here too the market says it is preferable that the market agency has identified a buyer or buyers to avoid losses to the farmer.
The official sales launch and the opening of doors for active physical trade will take place on Tuesday 27 October.
Also read: Fresh produce market in Mpumalanga shut down by court order
Operational readiness
Over the three weeks leading up to the launch, management will host a series of stakeholder meetings to review live system tests and ensure total operational readiness before trading begins.
Farmers or buyers with questions can contact Paulina Ndlovu, Head of Marketing, at paulina@mif.market or on 013 591 0880.
The Mpumalanga International FoodMarket is located on Lydenburg Road in Mbombela City, Mpumalanga.
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